Electrodeposition of a 3D dendritic Cu-Sn bimetallic alloy for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia

The development of effective and selective catalysts is the key to improving the multi-electron transfer nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR) to ammonia (NH3). Herein, we prepared a copper-tin bimetallic alloy using the dynamic hydrogen bubble template electrodeposition technique for electrocatalytic NO3- reduction to NH3. The NH3 yield rate and the faraday efficiency were up to 293.12 mu mol h-1 cm-2 and 78.57% at -1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M Na2SO4 (containing 0.01 M NaNO3) electrolyte. This paper will provide new suggestions for the use of bimetallic alloys for electrochemical removal of nitrate and ammonia synthesis from water. Cu-Sn alloy attains an NH3 yield rate and faraday efficiency up to 293.12 mu mol h-1 cm-2 and 78.57% at -1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M Na2SO4 (containing 0.01 M NaNO3) electrolyte.