Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy of Nitrate Electroreduction Reveals Dynamic Interfacial Adsorbate Evolution
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Nitrate electroreduction offers a pathway for coupling wastewater remediation with sustainable ammonia production, yet its mechanistic details under operating conditions remain poorly understood. In this work, we directly resolve the dynamic evolution of nitrate-derived intermediates at electrified interfaces, addressing a key limitation in understanding dynamic reaction pathways. We employ time-resolved surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TR-SERS) to monitor the interfacial behavior of NO3– and NO2– during nitrate reduction on roughened silver electrodes and observe potential-dependent vibrational shifts attributed to systematic changes in adsorption modes under increasingly cathodic potentials. Density functional theory calculations further support the vibrational assignments and provide insight into preferred binding motifs across the applied potential range. By tracking the time evolution of adsorbates, this approach provides insights into the sequence of adsorption and transformation steps on silver. The combined experimental and computational analysis contributes to a molecular-level understanding of nitrate electroreduction and provides a framework for probing dynamic reaction intermediates in nitrogen conversion electrocatalysis.
Source: JACS Au
Language: English
Subfield: Catalysis
Field: Chemical Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,500
Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Centres de Recerca de Catalunya, Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, European Commission, Science Foundation Ireland, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, European Social Fund, HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya, Research Ireland
Awards: G1105844351, G1119546765, G1206670709, G1272900390, G1274913171, G2038104832, G2064873908, G2462415295, G288263039, G3005324705, G3166447811, G3320050967, G3546882995, G354764522, G3942384500, G410571670, Atomic-Scale Tailored Materials for Electrochemical Methane Activation and Production of Valuable Chemicals, G4517963591, G451917667, G491712853, G5539308778, G5635532810, G5706383408, G5852091828, G5871537297, G5952297845, G5967599077, Attracting International Experienced Researchers in any Research Field to the Basque Country, Nano2H2: Nano-electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production from bio-resources, G6605876378, G6656126374, G6762955466, G717256432, G7364240373, G7805626310, G7863371703, Integrated COnversion of NItrate and Carbonate streams, G8497050386, G8621081298, G9001166377, G98815664
OpenAlex ID: W7221344221