Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) represents a dual-function route for sustainable ammonia synthesis and wastewater treatment. Yet, the practical application of this process is currently hindered by unsatisfactory electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability. Herein, Co60Cu12Si18B10 nanocrystalline alloy with a unique Cu-CoSiB dual nanocrystalline structure was fabricated through nonequilibrium solidification technology. The addition of Si and B not only promotes geometric structural refinement but also modulates the electronic structure of the active sites. The resultant Co60Cu12Si18B10 catalyst achieves excellent NO3RR performance with an NH3 yield rate of 9.11 mg h-1 cm-2 and a NH3 Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 96.4% in 0.1 M NO3- electrolytes, outperforming most of the reported catalysts. This work demonstrates that nonmetallic alloyed nanocrystals enable highly efficient electrocatalysis, highlighting their promise for economically and environmentally treating wastewater into valuable NH3 and energy storage.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.