Hydrogen Radical‐Mediated Nitric Oxide Reduction to Ammonia Over Synergistic Pd 0 /Pd 2+ Dual Sites

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Authors: Wei Wu, Keying Wu, Yi-Xiang Wang, C F Zhang, Yanjuan Sun, Jieyuan Li, Fan Dong
Cited by: 1
References: 42

Abstract

ABSTRACT The photocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) to NH 3 offers a promising route for ammonia (NH 3 ) synthesis, addressing environmental issues and mitigating the carbon footprint associated with the energy‐intensive Haber‐Bosch process. However, conventional sluggish multi‐proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) and poor regulation of valence states at active sites hinder the efficiency of NORR. Herein, we propose a hydrogenation pathway driven by hydrogen radicals ( • H) utilizing ethylene glycol (EG) as a hydrogen donor, which effectively bypasses the limitations of the conventional PCET process. By precisely modulating the valence states of Pd cocatalysts, we construct synergistic Pd 0 /Pd 2+ dual active sites, where Pd 2+ sites facilitate the dissociation of C‐H bonds from EG to supply adsorbed H species (*H), which are subsequently activated into highly reactive • H by photogenerated electrons at Pd 0 sites. This synergistic effect of Pd 0 /Pd 2+ guarantees a steady flux of • H for deep NORR. Optimizing the Pd 0 /Pd 2+ ratio to unity (Pd 1.0 /TiO 2 ‐50) enabled a superior NH 3 yield rate of 31.61 ± 1.61 mmol∙g cat −1 ∙h −1 with high NO conversion (91.54% ± 1.82%) and NH 3 selectivity (90.14% ± 1.38%) in a single pass flow. Comprehensive in situ characterizations elucidate the causality between Pd valence states and radical generation, offering a new paradigm for designing and understanding the radical‐mediated chemistry.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts

Publication details

Journal / source
Angewandte Chemie
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
138
Issue
32
Publication date
3 June 2026
Language
EN