Kinetics of nitrate reduction reaction over PtCoCu catalysts

The study of nitrate reduction reaction (NORR) electrocatalysts has gained significant attention due to their potential to address environmental pollution and produce value-added products such as ammonia. In this proposal, we aim to investigate the structural evolution mechanism of a highly efficient PtCoCu alloy electrocatalyst under working conditions. We will 1) investigate the evolution of Co, Cu, and Pt oxidation states through time-resolved X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements, revealing the dynamic reconfiguration of active sites during the reaction process; 2) quantify the rates of oxidation state changes for Co, Cu, and Pt under different applied potentials, correlating these dynamics with catalytic performance; 3) track the evolution of surface-bound oxygen species (OH⁻/H radicals) under alkaline reaction conditions using differential XANES, providing insights into the role of these species in the NORR.