Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Researchers Develop Efficient Way to Produce Ammonia and Hydrogen

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Shaanxi Normal University in China have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology. By developing defect-rich trimetallic AuCuRh nanowires, they have created a sustainable pathway for environmental wastewater treatment and ammonia generation. This breakthrough could have significant implications for the production of clean energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The nitrite electroreduction reaction (NORR) is a green and sustainable pathway for environmental wastewater treatment and ammonia generation.
  • Defect-rich trimetallic AuCuRh nanowires (AuCuRh NWs) with a large number of grain boundaries, twin boundaries, and atomic steps are successfully synthesized by galvanic replacement reaction.
  • AuCuRh NWs can efficiently drive the stable NORR at 0 V potential with a Faradaic efficiency of 98.32% and NH yield rate of 20.49 mg h mg.
  • The NORR||FOR electrolysis system assembled with AuCuRh NWs requires only the electrolysis voltage of 0.38 V to achieve the co-production of NH, formate, and hydrogen and ultra-stable continuous electrolysis for 300 hours.
  • The NORR||FOR electrolysis system can be further decreased to only 0.29 V under illumination due to plasmon-enhanced activity.
  • This study provides an energy-efficient coupling strategy for the stable co-production of value-added chemicals.

Statistics:

  • 98.32% Faradaic efficiency in NORR
  • 20.49 mg h mg NH yield rate
  • 0.38 V electrolysis voltage for NORR||FOR electrolysis system
  • 300 hours ultra-stable continuous electrolysis
  • 0.29 V electrolysis voltage under illumination

Sources:

  • NewsRx. 2025. Study Data from Shaanxi Normal University Provide New Insights into Nanowires (Low-Voltage Driven Co-Production of Ammonia, Formate, and Hydrogen From Nitrite Reduction Coupled Formaldehyde Oxidation System on Ultra-Stable AuCuRh Nanowires ...). Nanotechnology Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 5094.
  • Xiao-Hui Wang et al. (2025). Low-Voltage Driven Co-Production of Ammonia, Formate, and Hydrogen From Nitrite Reduction Coupled Formaldehyde Oxidation System on Ultra-Stable AuCuRh Nanowires under Illumination. Advanced Materials, 2025.