Research progress of transition metals Cu, Fe and Ni as electrode materials for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia

Nitrate is a common pollutant in surface water and groundwater. Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction method is an electrochemical reduction reaction of nitrate at the cathode by impressed current, and the reduced ammonia generated by the reaction is an important chemical raw material. The main step of this process is the selection of cathode electrocatalytic materials. In this paper, the mechanism of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia production is briefly explained, then the research situation of transition metals Cu, Fe and Ni as electrode materials for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia production at home and abroad is reviewed, and finally the future direction of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia production is summarized.