Enhanced electroreduction of low-concentration nitrate using a Cu-Pd bimetallic cathode system: Performance evaluation, mechanism analysis, and potential applications

Abstract

Copper (Cu) is a widely recognized cathode for the electrochemical reduction of nitrate (NO3-). Nevertheless, its practical applications are currently restricted due to limited activity and selectivity, particularly at low NO3- concentrations. Herein, a Cu-Pd bimetallic cathode system was designed for NO3- reduction reaction with low NO3- concentrations (≤40 mg-N L−1). In this system, a Cu nanowire array cathode was utilized for NO3- reduction, while a Pd/C particle cathode was employed for NO2- reduction with H2 generated in situ from a polypyrrole electrode. Due to the improved mass transfer and active sites derived from Pd/C particle cathode, along with the synergistic effects of NO3- reduction and NO2- reduction, the constructed Cu-Pd bimetallic cathode system achieved a 7.32-fold increase in NO3– removal rate and a 1.70-fold increase in NH4+ selectivity compared to the traditional Cu cathode. This performance surpassed that of many other state-of-the-art Cu-based cathodes under similar conditions. Moreover, the Cu-Pd bimetallic cathode system displayed high reusability, and extremely low Cu and Pd leaching. Additionally, it showed strong resistance to environmental factors and can adapt to a wide pH range (3−9) and various NO3- concentrations (10–40 mg-N L−1). The electron spin resonance and scavenger experiments confirmed that both direct electron transfer and indirect reduction by atomic H* were involved in the NO3- removal process, with indirect reduction playing a more significant role. Overall, our findings guide the design of superior catalytic systems for NO3- removal to enhance the activity and selectivity of NO3- reduction for efficient water purification.