Element-dependent effects of alkali cations on nitrate reduction to ammonia

Catalytic conversion of nitrate (NO3−) pollutants into ammonia (NH3) offers a sustainable and promising route for both wastewater treatment and NH3 synthesis. Alkali cations are prevalent in nitrate solutions, but their roles beyond charge balance in catalytic NO3− conversion have been generally ignored. Herein, we report the promotion effect of K+ cations in KNO3 solution for NO3− reduction over a TiO2-supported Ni single-atom catalyst (Ni1/TiO2). For photocatalytic NO3− reduction reaction, Ni1/TiO2 exhibited a 1.9-fold NH3 yield rate with nearly 100% selectivity in KNO3 solution relative to that in NaNO3 solution. Mechanistic studies reveal that the K+ cations from KNO3 gradually bonded with the surface of Ni1/TiO2, in situ forming a K-O-Ni moiety during reaction, whereas the Na+ ions were unable to interact with the catalyst in NaNO3 solution. The charge accumulation on the Ni sites induced by the incorporation of K atom promoted the adsorption and activation of NO3−. Furthermore, the K-O-Ni moiety facilitated the multiple proton-electron coupling of NO3− into NH3 by stabilizing the intermediates.