Designing of Pd/Co2N Nanosheets for the highly effective electrochemical reduction of nitrate

Pd catalyzed electrochemical reduction process shows great promising in the safe and effective treatment of various pollutants, with additional merits like reagent-free and using sustainable electricity. However, the low Pd mass activity, and the unsatisfactory electron utilization efficiency, or the low faraday efficiency impedes their real-world application. In this study, we take advantage of the high conductivity, surface hydrophilicity of Co₂N, and designed Pd/Co₂N electrocatalysts for the electrochemical reduction of NO₃⁻, a highly concerned water borne pollutant. The Pd/Co₂N was synthesized by in-situ nitridation of Pd/Co₃O₄ NSs, which was synthesized from the co-reduction of CoCl₂ and PdCl₄²⁻ in the presence nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114). Our Pd/Co₂N showed high activity in the reduction of NO₃⁻, with NH₃ as the primary product. Besides showing the fore-hand of conversion waste into key chemicals, this work demonstrated the judicious selection of support for the rear-earth abundant Pd could make the base of highly efficient Pd catalyst.