The electrochemical selective reduction of NO using CoSe2@CNTs hybrid.

Converting the NO from gaseous pollutant into NH4+ through electrocatalytical reduction using cost-effective materials holds great promise for pollutant purifying and resources recycling. In this work, we developed a highly selective and stable catalyst CoSe2 nanoparticle hybridized with carbon nanotubes (CoSe2@CNTs). The CoSe2@CNTs hybrid catalysts performed an extraordinary high selectivity for NH4+ formation in NO electroreduction with minimal N2O production and H2 evolution. The specific spatial structure of CoSe2 is conductive to the predominant formation of N-H bond between the N from adsorbed NO and H and inhibition of N-N formation from adjacent adsorbed NO. It was also the first time to convert the coordinated NO into NH4+ using non-noble metal catalysis. Moreover, the original concept of employing CoSe2 as eletrocatalyst for NO hydrogenation presented in this work can broaden horizons and provide new dimensions in the design of new highly efficient catalysts for NH4+ synthesis in aqueous solution.