Songliang Liu1, Weixin Miao1, Kun Ma1, Huaifang Teng1, Xu Zhang1, Jialin Li1, Wenzhen Li2, Xuejing Cui1, and Luhua Jiang1*
1 Electrocatalysis & Nanomaterial Laboratory, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
2 Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1098, Unites States.
* Corresponding author: luhuajiang@qust.edu.cn
ABSTRACT:
Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to high value-added ammonia is an attractive alternative route for the traditional Haber-Bosch process that operates under harsh conditions, yet suffers from unsatisfied efficiency and selectivity due to multiple intermediates as well as the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, we report a unique defect-rich AuCu@Ag nanowires (AuCu@Ag NWs) with exclusive strain effect as an efficient electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction reaction (NO3–RR). DFT theoretical investigation manifests that the Ag atomic shell deposited layer-by-layer on AuCu NWs generates exclusive strain effect that accelerates the adsorption of NO3– and reaction intermediates, thereby enhances the NO3–RR activity. This work opens up new avenues for rational construction of high-performance NO3–RR electrocatalysts by synergistically modulating the electronic configuration of the active atoms through defect and strain engineering.
KEYWORDS: AuCu@Ag nanowires, defect engineering, strain engineering, core-shell structure, nitrate reduction reaction
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.123919
