Dual-function FeCo bimetallic nanoclusters for ammonia electrosynthesis from nitrate/nitrite reduction

Ammonia (NH3) plays a vital role in agriculture and chemical manufacturing, yet its conventional production is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. Developing cleaner, more efficient alternatives is essential. Here we show a newly developed dual-metal nanocluster catalyst, Fe2Co1/NC, that effectively converts nitrate and nitrite pollutants into NH3 through an electrochemical process. This catalyst achieves high NH3 production rates and Faradaic efficiency, surpassing single-metal Fe/NC and Co/NC catalysts, and remains stable over extended use. When incorporated into nitrate- or nitrite-based zinc batteries, the system enables simultaneous NH3 production and electricity generation, highlighting its potential for coupled energy recovery and environmental remediation. This work provides valuable design principles for bimetallic nanocluster catalysts and offers a promising strategy for the sustainable conversion of nitrogen-containing waste into useful chemicals. Bimetallic nanoclusters are promising catalysts for ammonia electrosynthesis via nitrate/nitrite reduction, but designing bifunctional nanocatalysts that cater to both reactions remains challenging. Here, the authors synthesize a bimetallic nanocluster electrocatalyst, Fe2Co1/NC, and demonstrate its dual functionality for efficient ammonia production.