Ultra-dispersed metal oxide nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride as functional platforms for electrochemical nitrate valorization
Abstract
Ammonia is a vital commodity of key importance for global agriculture, but its traditional synthesis via the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process features a high ecological footprint, contributing to ≈2% of the overall carbon dioxide emission. An eco-friendly and sustainable alternative is offered by electrochemical NO ₃ ⁻ reduction (e-NO ₃ RR), enabling also to simultaneously reduce the concentration of nitrate, a widespread water pollutant. Herein, we report on the ultra-dispersion of CuFe ₂ O ₄ , NiFe ₂ O ₄ , or Fe ₂ O ₃ nanoparticles (NPs) on graphitic carbon nitride (gCN), yielding heterostructured oxide@gCN systems as potential e-NO ₃ RR catalysts. The target materials, fabricated by gCN electrophoretic deposition on carbon cloth (CC), followed by radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of oxide NPs in very low amounts, were subjected to a multi-technique characterization aimed at investigating their morphological, structural, compositional, and optoelectronic properties. The results indicate that gCN provides a robust, electronically coupled scaffold anchoring ultra-dispersed oxides, and evidence a gCN → oxide electron donation. Electrochemical tests coupled with ion chromatographic analyses highlight CuFe ₂ O ₄ @gCN as the best-performing catalyst, affording a Faradaic efficiency towards NH ₄ ⁺ of 21% at -1.15 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), together with a comparatively higher ammonium production rate and reduced NO ₂ ⁻ generation. Altogether, our results may pave the way to the potential implementation of functional catalysts for ammonia generation from nitrate‑containing aqueous media.
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BibTeX
@article{rizzi2026ultradispersed,
title = {{Ultra-dispersed metal oxide nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride as functional platforms for electrochemical nitrate valorization}},
author = {Gian Andrea Rizzi and Davide Barreca and Nikša Krstulović and Oleg I. Lebedev and Lidia Soldà and Andrea Tapparo and Chiara Maccato and Alberto Gasparotto},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-73907-8},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73907-8},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Ultra-dispersed metal oxide nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride as functional platforms for electrochemical nitrate valorization
AU - Gian Andrea Rizzi
AU - Davide Barreca
AU - Nikša Krstulović
AU - Oleg I. Lebedev
AU - Lidia Soldà
AU - Andrea Tapparo
AU - Chiara Maccato
AU - Alberto Gasparotto
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-73907-8
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73907-8
AB - Ammonia is a vital commodity of key importance for global agriculture, but its traditional synthesis via the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process features a high ecological footprint, contributing to ≈2% of the overall carbon dioxide emission. An eco-friendly and sustainable alternative is offered by electrochemical NO ₃ ⁻ reduction (e-NO ₃ RR), enabling also to simultaneously reduce the concentration of nitrate, a widespread water pollutant. Herein, we report on the ultra-dispersion of CuFe ₂ O ₄ , NiFe ₂ O ₄ , or Fe ₂ O ₃ nanoparticles (NPs) on graphitic carbon nitride (gCN), yielding heterostructured oxide@gCN systems as potential e-NO ₃ RR catalysts. The target materials, fabricated by gCN electrophoretic deposition on carbon cloth (CC), followed by radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of oxide NPs in very low amounts, were subjected to a multi-technique characterization aimed at investigating their morphological, structural, compositional, and optoelectronic properties. The results indicate that gCN provides a robust, electronically coupled scaffold anchoring ultra-dispersed oxides, and evidence a gCN → oxide electron donation. Electrochemical tests coupled with ion chromatographic analyses highlight CuFe ₂ O ₄ @gCN as the best-performing catalyst, affording a Faradaic efficiency towards NH ₄ ⁺ of 21% at -1.15 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), together with a comparatively higher ammonium production rate and reduced NO ₂ ⁻ generation. Altogether, our results may pave the way to the potential implementation of functional catalysts for ammonia generation from nitrate‑containing aqueous media.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -