Electroreduction of activated nitrogen compounds
- Submission status
- Open
- Submission deadline
The nitrogen cycle is a critical component of Earth's ecosystem, playing an essential role in sustaining life. However, human activity has significantly disrupted the natural balance of the nitrogen cycle, leading to severe environmental issues such as eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. Concurrently, nitrogen-intensive chemical manufacturing processes, particularly the Haber-Bosch process, are energy-intensive and heavily reliant on fossil fuels, leading to excessive release of activated nitrogen in the environment. Transitioning to more sustainable methods of converting waste activated nitrogen into useful chemicals is paramount to addressing these issues and achieving a decarbonized chemical industry.
This Collection will focus on the electrochemical conversion of activated nitrogen species (nitrates, nitrites, and other oxides of nitrogen) into ammonia and other value-added chemicals. The aim is to explore both computational and experimental advances in converting these activated nitrogen species, offering pathways for sustainable chemical manufacturing and efficient nitrogen cycle management. Key topics of interest include:
- Electrochemical reduction of nitrates, nitrites, and nitrogen oxides to ammonia.
- Co-reduction of activated nitrogen species with carbon-based compounds (e.g., CO2) to produce nitrogenated organic compounds such as nitroalkanes, alkyl nitrites, amines, and amides.
- Mechanistic studies (both experimental and theoretical) aimed at understanding the reaction pathways for activated nitrogen conversion.
- Catalyst design and materials development for nitrogen electroreduction, with a focus on enhancing selectivity, stability, and energy efficiency.
- Hybrid processes that combine biological and electrochemical methods to convert nitrogen species.
We invite original research Articles, Reviews, and Perspectives that address these critical aspects. By fostering a deeper understanding of nitrogen electroreduction, this Collection aims to advance the development of sustainable and scalable processes to balance the nitrogen cycle and decarbonize chemical manufacturing.
Editors
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Meenesh R. Singh, PhD
University of Illinois Chicago, USA
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Kelsey A. Stoerzinger, PhD
University of Minnesota, USA
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Xuping Sun, PhD
Sichuan University West China Hospital, China
