Electrochemical Ammonia Production Using Pyrolyzed Cobalt Phthalocyanine

Abstract

Nitrate pollution is a major concern, agricultural runoffs and industrial discharge are the major sources of nitrate pollution. Combining ammonia synthesis with nitrate removal has a sustainable and economically viable solution for treating nitrate-contaminated water. So here we developed an electrocatalyst by making a composite of pyrolyzed cobalt phthalocyanine and carbon nanotubes for the reduction of nitrate. The pyrolyzed catalyst results in a notable ammonia yield of nearly 0.26 mg h -1 cm -2 with a Faradaic efficiency of 53 % at -0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl/Cl -. The improved activity after pyrolysis is attributed to the well dispersion of Co-based oxides and Co-N x sites on the carbon support.