Ammonia-Driven Nanoscale Surface Restructuring of Copper Catalysts during Nitrate Reduction Reaction

The electrolyte and applied potential are known to impact a catalyst’s structure and performance, yet the role of reaction intermediates and products in driving surface evolution remains largely unexplored. Here, using electrochemical atomic force microscopy, we show that the dynamic restructuring of copper (Cu) surfaces during nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) directly correlates with the rate and selectivity of ammonia (NH3) formation. At moderate overpotentials, where nitrite formation dominates, lateral expansion of Cu terraces is observed, whereas rapid NH3 formation at higher cathodic potentials induces Cu adislands enriched in low-coordinated step sites, revealing distinct restructuring pathways that accompany the transition from nitrite- to ammonia-selective NO3RR. These transformations are rationalized by an NH3-mediated Cu dissolution-redeposition mechanism. Our results identify reaction products as active modulators of catalyst surface structure, establishing a framework for understanding reaction-driven catalyst restructuring and enabling in situ control of catalyst surfaces through the interfacial reaction environment.