Dealloyed TiCuMn efficiently catalyze the NO reduction and Zn-NO batteries

Abstract

Electrocatalytic NO reduction reaction offers a sustainable route to achieving environmental protection and NH₃ production targets as well. In this work, a class of dealloyed Ti₆₀Cu₃₃Mn₇ ribbons with enough nanoparticles for the high-efficient NO reduction reaction to NH₃ is fabricated, reaching an excellent Faradaic efficiency of 93.2% at -0.5 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode and a high NH₃ synthesis rate of 717.4 μmol·h^-1·mg_cat.^-1 at -0.6 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode. The formed nanoparticles on the surface of the catalyst could facilitate the exposure of active sites and the transportation of various reactive ions and gases. Meanwhile, the Mn content in the TiCuMn ribbons modulates the chemical and physical properties of its surface, such as modifying the electronic structure of the Cu species, optimizing the adsorption energy of N* atoms, decreasing the strength of the NO adsorption, and eliminating the thermodynamic energy barrier, thus improving the NO reduction reaction catalytic performance. Moreover, a Zn-NO battery was fabricated using the catalyst and Zn plates, generating an NH₃ yield of 129.1 μmol·h^-1·cm^-2 while offering a peak power density of 1.45 mW·cm^-2.