<p>The massive discharge of nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) represents a major challenge to the sustainability of both human society and ecosystems. Electrochemical reduction of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> to NH<sub>3</sub> offers a “turning waste into treasure” solution, enabling the conversion of renewable electricity into chemical energy stored in NH<sub>3</sub>. In recent years, atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have attracted extensive research interest. Their protein-like hierarchical structures, from the metal core to the protecting layers, allow for multi-level design and synthesis, which not only offers a good means to tailor cluster structure at the atomic level for effective NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction, but also affords a paradigm for correlating cluster structure and catalytic performance. In this review, we summarize recent advances in atomically precise synthesis and electrocatalytic applications of metal NCs in NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction reactions. We first outline plausible mechanisms for the electrocatalytic NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction reactions, and then discuss the application of NCs in NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction based on their hierarchical architecture. We decipher design and synthesis strategies for metal NCs from four perspectives: metal core size, heteroatom doping, ligand engineering, and support engineering. Regarding the electrocatalytic applications of metal NCs, we aim to reveal the fundamentals governing the catalytic activity and selectivity for conversion of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> to NH<sub>3</sub>. The fundamental and methodological advances systemized in this review should add to the acceptance of metal NCs in the electrocatalytic reduction of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>.</p>

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Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Promoted by Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters

  • Min Zhang,
  • Fan Yang,
  • Moshuqi Zhu,
  • Qiaofeng Yao

摘要

The massive discharge of nitrate (NO3) represents a major challenge to the sustainability of both human society and ecosystems. Electrochemical reduction of NO3 to NH3 offers a “turning waste into treasure” solution, enabling the conversion of renewable electricity into chemical energy stored in NH3. In recent years, atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have attracted extensive research interest. Their protein-like hierarchical structures, from the metal core to the protecting layers, allow for multi-level design and synthesis, which not only offers a good means to tailor cluster structure at the atomic level for effective NO3 reduction, but also affords a paradigm for correlating cluster structure and catalytic performance. In this review, we summarize recent advances in atomically precise synthesis and electrocatalytic applications of metal NCs in NO3 reduction reactions. We first outline plausible mechanisms for the electrocatalytic NO3 reduction reactions, and then discuss the application of NCs in NO3 reduction based on their hierarchical architecture. We decipher design and synthesis strategies for metal NCs from four perspectives: metal core size, heteroatom doping, ligand engineering, and support engineering. Regarding the electrocatalytic applications of metal NCs, we aim to reveal the fundamentals governing the catalytic activity and selectivity for conversion of NO3 to NH3. The fundamental and methodological advances systemized in this review should add to the acceptance of metal NCs in the electrocatalytic reduction of NO3.