Electrochemical oxidation of nitric oxide to concentrated nitric acid with carbon-based catalysts at near-ambient conditions

IF 42.8 1区化学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL

Nature Catalysis Pub Date : 2025-04-03 DOI:10.1038/s41929-025-01315-8

Rong Xia, Sydnee Dronsfield, Ahryeon Lee, Bradie S. Crandall, Jiashun Liang, Bjorn Hasa, Andy Redder, Gang Wu, Tiago J. Goncalves, Samira Siahrostami, Feng Jiao

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Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) emissions pose significant environmental challenges that demand sustainable remediation strategies. Here we report an electrochemical approach to convert NO into salt-free, concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃) using a carbon-based catalyst at near-ambient conditions. The system achieves >90% HNO₃ Faradaic efficiency (FE) at 100 mA cm⁻² with pure NO and retains >70% FE with dilute NO (0.5 vol%). Mechanistic studies identified nitrous acid as a critical intermediate, diverging from conventional thermocatalytic nitrogen dioxide pathways. By implementing a vapour-fed strategy in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyser, we directly synthesized 32 wt% HNO₃ from NO and deionized water, achieving 86% FE at 800 mA cm⁻² without electrolyte additives or downstream purification. This work establishes an electrochemical route to valorize NO emissions to high-purity HNO₃, advancing sustainable pollution mitigation and chemical manufacturing.

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近环境条件下用碳基催化剂将一氧化氮电化学氧化为浓硝酸

一氧化氮（NO）的排放构成了重大的环境挑战，需要可持续的补救策略。在这里，我们报告了一种在近环境条件下使用碳基催化剂将NO转化为无盐浓硝酸（HNO3）的电化学方法。该系统在100 mA cm−2条件下使用纯NO时达到90%的HNO3法拉第效率（FE），在稀释NO （0.5 vol%）条件下保持70%的FE。机理研究发现，亚硝酸是一个关键的中间体，不同于传统的热催化二氧化氮途径。通过在膜电极组件电解槽中实施蒸汽供气策略，我们直接从NO和去离子水中合成了32 wt%的HNO3，在800 mA cm - 2的条件下，无需电解质添加剂或下游净化，获得了86%的FE。本研究建立了一种电化学途径，将NO排放转化为高纯度的HNO3，促进可持续的污染缓解和化学制造。

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来源期刊

Nature Catalysis Chemical Engineering-Bioengineering

CiteScore

52.10

自引率

1.10%

发文量

140

期刊介绍： Nature Catalysis serves as a platform for researchers across chemistry and related fields, focusing on homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, and biocatalysts, encompassing both fundamental and applied studies. With a particular emphasis on advancing sustainable industries and processes, the journal provides comprehensive coverage of catalysis research, appealing to scientists, engineers, and researchers in academia and industry. Maintaining the high standards of the Nature brand, Nature Catalysis boasts a dedicated team of professional editors, rigorous peer-review processes, and swift publication times, ensuring editorial independence and quality. The journal publishes work spanning heterogeneous catalysis, homogeneous catalysis, and biocatalysis, covering areas such as catalytic synthesis, mechanisms, characterization, computational studies, nanoparticle catalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, environmental catalysis, asymmetric catalysis, and various forms of organocatalysis.