Photoelectrochemical Nitrate and Nitrite Reduction Using Cu2O Photocathodes

Kim, Hyo Eun; Wi, Dae Han; Lee, Jae Sung; Choi, Kyoung-Shin

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.4c00256

Photoelectrochemical Nitrate and Nitrite Reduction Using Cu₂O Photocathodes

Journal Article · Thu Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · ACS Energy Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.4c00256· OSTI ID:2350818

Kim, Hyo Eun ^[1]; Wi, Dae Han ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[2]

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan (Korea, Republic of); University of Wisconsin-Madison
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan (Korea, Republic of)

Nitrate in wastewater streams causes eutrophication, and nitrate removal is of great importance for environmental protection. Electrochemical nitrate reduction has the advantage of directly converting nitrate to benign or useful chemicals, but it typically requires a considerable overpotential. Here, in this study, photoelectrochemical nitrate reduction is investigated using a Cu₂O photocathode, where photoexcited electrons in the conduction band inherently have an overpotential of >1.6 V for nitrate reduction. The Cu₂O photocathode is found to reduce nitrate to nitrite selectively with a high Faradaic efficiency (>85%). More importantly, as the surface of Cu₂O is particularly catalytic for nitrate reduction, nitrate reduction on Cu₂O kinetically suppresses photocorrosion of Cu₂O without the need for additional catalyst or protection layers. In addition to nitrate reduction, nitrite reduction on Cu₂O is examined to compare the effects of nitrate and nitrite reduction kinetics on the photocurrent generation and photocorrosion of Cu₂O photocathodes.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0024211

OSTI ID:: 2350818

Journal Information:: ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 9; ISSN 2380-8195

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Photoelectrochemical Nitrate and Nitrite Reduction Using Cu2O Photocathodes

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Photoelectrochemical Nitrate and Nitrite Reduction Using Cu₂O Photocathodes