Heterostructure Cu_(3)P-Ni_(2)P/CP catalyst assembled membrane electrode for high-efficiency electrocatalytic nitrate to ammonia

Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction(NO_(3)RR)is a promising means for generating the energy carrier ammonia.Herein,we report the synthesis of heterostructure copper-nickel phosphide electrocatalysts via a simple vapor-phase hydrothermal method.The resultant catalysts were evaluated for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia(NH_(3))in three-type electrochemical reactors.In detail,the regulation mechanism of the heterogeneous Cu_(3)P-Ni_(2)P/CP-x for NO_(3)RR performance was systematically studied through the H-type cell,rotating disk electrode setup,and membrane-electrode-assemblies(MEA)electrolyzer.As a result,the Cu_(3)P-Ni_(2)P/CP-0.5 displays the practicability in an MEA system with an anion exchange membrane,affording the largest ammonia yield rate(RNH_(3))of 1.9 mmol·h^(−1)·cm^(−2),exceeding most of the electrocatalytic nitrate reduction electrocatalysts reported to date.The theoretical calculations and in-situ spectroscopy characterizations uncover that the formed heterointerface in Cu_(3)P-Ni_(2)P/CP is beneficial for promoting nitrate adsorption,activation,and conversion to ammonia through the successive hydrodeoxygenation pathway.