Low-crystallinity B-Co₃O₄ Nano-particles for Electrocatalytic Nitrate to Ammonia

A simple precipitation calcination process was used to synthesize B-Co₃O₄ NPs and apply them as electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate by ammonia. Research has found that B-Co₃O₄ NPs have high electrocatalytic activity and when the voltage is -0.8(V vs. RHE). It attains an impressive NH₃ yield of 20 mg/(h ·cm²) and 94% (FE). In NaOH (1 mol/L) solution containing 0.1 mol/L NaNO₃. When the voltage is -0.6 V (vs. RHE), it corresponds to a NH₃ yield of 17.2 mg/(h ·cm²) and 95% FE. The excellent electrochemical performance of electrode material B-Co₃O₄ NPs is attributed to the effective inhibition of hydrogen evolution reaction by B—O in the electrocatalytic process. The low crystallinity and special porous structure of B-Co₃O₄ NPs effectively improve the adsorption and reduction activity of NO₃^-, promoting electron transfer and transfer.