Nitrate-nitrogen is the main byproduct after oxidation of nitrogenous organics during natural or anthropic nitrogen cycle, leading to eutrophication. In this work, a nickel foam-copper composite electrode (Ni/Cu) was synthesized via electroless deposition using formaldehyde as the reductant. The crystal morphology and facet of Cu particulate, which were 20-40 nm in diameter grew on Ni, was manipulated by varying deposition time. Ni/Cu then applied as the substrate supported the nano-textured Sn and Pd as Ni/CuPd, Ni/CuSn, Ni/CuSnPd electrodes for catalytically reducing nitrate ion. Material properties was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The nitrate reduction from cyclic voltammograms, which indicated two main peak potentials of -0.6 and -1.0 V (vs. Hg/HgO), was evaluated to study steps of electron transfer over the synthesized electrodes. Compared to a pure metallic Cu, the electroless Cu composte significantly improved the selectivity of converting nitrate to nitrogen gas, in which Pd and Sn played important roles of electron promotor and mediator, respectively.

Morphological effect of electroless copper substrate on catalytic efficiency of CuPd, CuSn, CuSnPd electrodes in electrochemical reduction of nitrate ion

2019 Fall National Meeting

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