Selective and Efficient Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Ammonia from Nitrate with Copper‐Based Catalysts

Abstract

The high stability and persistence of nitrates in water poses a serious threat to human health and ecosystems. To effectively reduce the nitrate content in wastewater, the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (e‐NO3RR) is widely recognized as an ideal treatment method due to its high reliability and efficiency. The selection of catalyst material plays a decisive role in e‐NO3RR performance. Copper‐based catalysts, with their ease of acquisition, high activity, and selectivity for NH3, have emerged as the most promising candidates for e‐NO3RR applications. In this paper, the mechanism of e‐NO3RR is first introduced. Then the relationship between structural properties and catalytic performance of copper‐based catalysts is analyzed in detail from four aspects: nanomaterials, oxides, monoatomic, and bimetallic materials. Strategies for constructing efficient catalysts are discussed, including surface modulation, defect engineering, heteroatom doping, and coordination effects. Finally, the challenges and prospects of copper‐based catalysts with high e‐NO3RR performance in practical applications are outlined.