Strategies of selective electroreduction of aqueous nitrate to N2 in chloride-free system: A critical review

Abstract

Electroreduction of nitrate has been gaining wide attention in recent years owing to it's beneficial for converting nitrate into benign N2 from the perspective of electrocatalytic denitrification or into value-added ammonia from the perspective of electrocatalytic NH3 synthesis. By reason of the undesired formation of ammonia is dominant during electroreduction of nitrate-containing wastewater, chloride has been widely used to improve N2 selectivity. Nevertheless, selective electroreduction of nitrate to N2 gas in chloride-containing system poses several drawbacks. In this review, we focus on the key strategies for efficiently enhancing N2 selectivity of electroreduction of nitrate in chloride-free system, including optimal selection of elements, combining an active metal catalyst with another metal, manipulating the crystalline morphology and facet orientation, constructing core–shell structure catalysts, etc. Before summarizing the strategies, four possible reaction pathways of electroreduction of nitrate to N2 are discussed. Overall, this review attempts to provide practical strategies for enhancing N2 selectivity without the aid of electrochlorination and highlight directions for future research for designing appropriate electrocatalyst for final electrocatalytic denitrification.