Photothermal Cu island-decorated NiFe nanocone arrays for exceptional tandem nitrate-to-ammonia electroreduction and Zn-nitrate batteries.

Abstract

In this paper, we construct Cu islands on NiFe nanocone arrays for the electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia. The integration of tandem catalysis heterointerfaces, geometric architecture, and photothermal effects synergistically enhances cascade kinetics and mass transport. Under simulated solar illumination, the catalyst achieves an NH3 yield of 5.72 mmol h-1 cm-2 with a 100% faradaic efficiency at -0.218 V vs. RHE, and an ultralow potential of only -0.102 V vs. RHE at 1000 mA cm-2. Moreover, the assembled Zn-nitrate battery delivers a high open-circuit voltage of 1.598 V and a power density of 10.99 mW cm-2 under light, surpassing most recently reported NO3RR catalysts and NO3--based cells.

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