A Ternary Transition Metal Oxide Composite as an Efficient Electrode for Electrocatalytic Ammonia Oxidation

Electrochemical ammonia treatment has garnered significant interest due to its operational simplicity, environmental compatibility, and adaptability to diverse conditions. A key challenge remains the development of robust, highly active, and cost-effective anodes for ammonia oxidation. Herein, we report a ternary metal oxides electrode for ammonia oxidation reaction, fabricated by integrated electrochemical deposition and thermal treatment. The resulting NiCoCu oxides electrode achieves a net current density of 75.2 mA/cm² at 1.62 V vs. RHE for ammonia oxidation. The electrolytic cell exhibits a Faradaic efficiency of ~ 24% and enables ~ 93% ammonia removal after 24 h of operation. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis reveals that incorporating Ni and Co modulates the catalyst’s electronic structure, inducing surface charge redistribution and optimizing adsorption strength of reaction intermediates. This work establishes a versatile strategy for fabricating NiCoCu oxides electrode with high efficacy in electrocatalytic ammonia oxidation.

Graphical Abstract

This study provides a ternary metal oxides electrode for ammonia oxidation reaction, fabricated by integrated electrochemical deposition and thermal treatment.