Electron polarization induced by alloying changes mechanism of NH3 synthesis from NO3− electroreduction

Understanding the influence of intermediates to catalytic performance is critical for electrochemical conversion of nitrate to ammonia. In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Peng and co-workers report that electron polarization induced by alloying effect can lead to the change of adsorption sites and affect the formation of intermediates, thus paving a new mechanism for ammonia synthesis from nitrate reduction reaction.