Continuous regulation of Cu electronic states by rectifying Schottky contacts enhancing electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

Metal–carbon heterostructured Cu@N x C catalysts with precise regulation of the N content are constructed. The optimized Cu@N 1.0 C electrocatalyst converts NO 3 − to NH 3 with a high FE NH 3 of 96.2% at −0.9 V vs. RHE, and NH 3 yield rate is 1353.1 mmol h −1 g cat −1 at −1.1 V vs. RHE.