High-efficiency electroreduction of nitrite to ammonia on a Cu@TiO 2 nanobelt array.

Electrochemical nitrite (NO 2 - ) reduction is a potential and sustainable route to produce high-value ammonia (NH 3 ), but it requires highly active electrocatalysts. Herein, Cu nanoparticles anchored on a TiO 2 nanobelt array on a titanium plate (Cu@TiO 2 /TP) are reported as a high-efficiency electrocatalyst for NO 2 - -to-NH 3 conversion. The designed Cu@TiO 2 /TP catalyst exhibits outstanding catalytic performance toward the NO 2 - RR, with a high NH 3 yield of 760.5 μmol h -1 cm -2 (237.7 μmol h -1 mg cat. -1 ) and an excellent faradaic efficiency of 95.3% in neutral solution. Meanwhile, it also presents strong electrochemical stability during cyclic tests and long-term electrolysis.