In situ growth of copper oxide on MXene by combustion method for electrochemical ammonia production from nitrate.

The elimination of the nitrogen pollutant nitrate ions through the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia is an important and environment friendly strategy. Electrochemical nitrate reduction requires highly efficient, selective, and stable catalysts to convert nitrate to ammonia. In this work, a composite of copper oxide and MXene was synthesized using a combustion technique. As reported, nitrate ions are effectively adsorbed by Cu x O (CuO & Cu 2 O) nanoparticles. Herein, MXene is an excellent assembly for anchoring Cu x O on its layered surface because it has a strong support structure. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses show the presence of oxidation states of metal ions and the formation of Cu x O nanofoam anchors on the surface of MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ). The optimized Cu x O/Ti 3 C 2 T x composite exhibits an improved nitrate reduction reaction. The electrochemical studies of Cu x O/Ti 3 C 2 T x show an interesting nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) with a current density of 162 mA cm -2 . Further, Cu x O/Ti 3 C 2 T x shows an electrocatalytic activity with an ammonia production of 41 982 μg h -1 m cat -1 and its faradaic efficiency is 48% at -0.7 V vs. RHE. Thus, such performance by Cu x O/Ti 3 C 2 T x indicates a well-suitable candidate for nitrate ion conversion to ammonia.