Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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HL: Fachverband Halbleiterphysik
HL 12: Heterostructures, Interfaces and Surfaces: Photonics
HL 12.2: Talk
Monday, March 9, 2026, 17:00–17:15, POT/0051
Improving Photoelectrochemical Nitrate Reduction on Copper (I) Oxide Electrodes — •Maximilian Christis1,2, Jasmin Zitzmann1,2, Saswati Santra1,2, and Ian Sharp1,2 — 1Walter Schottky Institute, Technical University of Munich, Germany — 2Physics Department, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany
The photoelectrochemical (PEC) nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) offers a green approach for simultaneous production of ammonia (NH3) and removal of the wastewater pollutant nitrate (NO3*) in ambient conditions. Copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) was recently reported to be active for both electrochemical (EC) and PEC NO3RR, but its practical application is limited by stability issues. Thus, optimal reaction conditions that balance NH3 selectivity and catalyst stability remain to be established. In the current investigation, we find that alkaline electrolytes enhance Cu2O-catalyzed PEC NO3RR compared to neutral conditions, and higher NH3 selectivity is achieved at lower applied potentials. However, under illumination and at potentials < 0.3 V vs. RHE, the catalyst rapidly reduces to metallic Cu, favoring EC rather than PEC NO3RR. To address this challenge, we are exploring possible strategies to reduce in-situ decomposition of Cu2O photocathodes, aiming to enable their long-term use for solar NH3 synthesis.
Keywords: photoelectrocatalysis; ammonia synthesis; nitrate reduction; copper oxide