Synergistic Regulation of <sup>*</sup> NO Coupling and <sup>*</sup> H Supply on Sulfur‐Doped Zero‐Valent Iron Aerogels Drives Efficient Electroreduction of Nitrate to N <sub>2</sub>

P Peiren Ding (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences Institute of Eco‐Chongming East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China) W Wei Chen F Fuqiang Liu Y Yang Liu K Kaiwei Zheng (Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences Institute of Eco‐Chongming East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China) Y Yuankui Sun X Xiaohong Guan (Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences) S Shuangyin Wang (State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical nitrate (NO 3 − ) reduction to dinitrogen (N 2 ) is a promising approach for environmental remediation but suffers from the sluggish * NO coupling and excessive * H supply on traditional electrocatalysts. Herein, we construct a sulfur‐doped zero‐valent iron (Fe 0 @S) aerogel that enables highly selective electrochemical nitrate‐to‐dinitrogen conversion via * NO→ * N 2 O→N 2 path by synchronously regulating * H supply and * NO coupling. Mechanistic studies reveal that the aerogel's 3D porous framework enriches local NO 3 − near active sites, while strategic sulfur incorporation can weaken H 2 O adsorption and tune * NO 3 − binding strength, thereby lowering the energy barrier for * NO coupling into * N 2 O and subsequent reduction to N 2 . With a flow‐through electrolyzer, we achieve near‐complete removal of 50 mg/L NO 3 − from real surface and ground water with a high N 2 selectivity above 90%. This work provides a practical NO 3 − remediation method based on non‐noble metals and presents a simple strategy for the design of catalyst structure to improve N 2 selectivity.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 9
Published February 23, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (8)

P

Peiren Ding

Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences Institute of Eco‐Chongming East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China

W

Wei Chen

F

Fuqiang Liu

Y

Yang Liu

K

Kaiwei Zheng

Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences Institute of Eco‐Chongming East China Normal University Shanghai 200241 China

Y

Yuankui Sun

X

Xiaohong Guan

Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences

S

Shuangyin Wang

State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering