Efficient electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas by a cubic Cu 2 O film with predominant (111) orientation.

A (111) predominant cubic Cu 2 O film terminated with nanopyramids was electrodeposited on copper foam as the cathode for electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate. The nitrate removal efficiency reached 94.3% and the selectivity for nontoxic nitrogen gas was 49.2%, 99% and 64.2% in neutral solution, alkaline solution and spiked actual lake water, respectively.