Strongly Correlated Electron Systems in Triple Metal Atoms Trigger Atomic‐Level Structure Resonance for Durable and Efficient Ammonia Electrosynthesis

X Xia Zhong Y Yaowen Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry) Y Yuqi Sun J Jingyao Xu (Institute of Physical Chemistry College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun China) B Bryn Merrill (Department of Chemistry and Alexandra Navrotsky Institute for Experimental Thermodynamics Washington State University Pullman USA) X Xiyang Wang (Department of Applied Physics) Y Yuan Zhang B Beining Zheng (State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun China) Z Zhibin Geng (State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry) M Mei Han (Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University) X Xiaofeng Guo (Department of Chemistry, Washington State University) Y Yiming Niu Y Yimin A. Wu S Shouhua Feng (State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry College of Chemistry)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) is an important route for achieving both sustainable ammonia synthesis and wastewater treatment. However, the weak electron correlation characteristics between the active sites in traditional catalysts leads to their limited dynamic adaptability, which highly restricts the construction of ammonia synthesis systems that simultaneously possess high selectivity, high yield rate, and high stability. Here, we synthesize a NiCoFeOOH multi‐metallic catalyst with strong electron coupling characteristics by inducing the electron‐spin‐geometric structure transformation via an in situ reconstruction strategy. NiCoFeOOH sustains high Faradaic efficiencies (FEs, 95%–99%) across a broad potential range together with a remarkable yield rate of 52 mg h −1 cm −2 . The catalyst remains stable for up to 324 h at the industrial current density of 1 A cm −2 (FEs ∼ 90%, a record‐breaking yield rate of ∼72 mg h −1 cm −2 ) in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer (MEA), ranking it among the most efficient and stable electrocatalysts reported hitherto. Operando/in situ characterizations combined with theoretical calculations show that atomic resonance between triple octahedral structural unit and key intermediate highly mediates the hydrogenation pathway. Based on the quantum spin exchange interaction, the adaptive charge transport channel among multiple atoms accelerates the proton‐coupled electron transfer kinetics and suppress atomic dissolution at ampere‐level current densities.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 27
Published July 01, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

X

Xia Zhong

Y

Yaowen Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry

Y

Yuqi Sun

J

Jingyao Xu

Institute of Physical Chemistry College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun China

B

Bryn Merrill

Department of Chemistry and Alexandra Navrotsky Institute for Experimental Thermodynamics Washington State University Pullman USA

X

Xiyang Wang

Department of Applied Physics

Y

Yuan Zhang

B

Beining Zheng

State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun China

Z

Zhibin Geng

State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry

M

Mei Han

Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University

X

Xiaofeng Guo

Department of Chemistry, Washington State University

Y

Yiming Niu

Y

Yimin A. Wu

S

Shouhua Feng

State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry College of Chemistry