Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Hydroxylamine: Advancing Selectivity and Performance in Acidic Media

Promovendus/a: Yangshan Xie

Promotor(en): Prof. dr. ir. Maarten Roeffaers

Nitrate pollution in aquatic environments has become a pressing global concern due to intensive agriculture, industrial discharge, and urbanization. Excess nitrate causes severe ecological harm, such as eutrophication and hypoxia, and poses health risks including methemoglobinemia and potential carcinogenic effects. Beyond remediation, a promising approach is the upcycling of nitrate into valuable chemical products, turning an environmental pollutant into an industrial feedstock. Among these products, hydroxylamine (NH₂OH) stands out as a key intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and particularly Nylon-6. Traditionally, NH2OH is synthesized via energy-intensive processes involving toxic reagents and harsh conditions. In contrast, electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO₃RR) offers a sustainable, low-energy, and environmentally benign pathway to directly convert nitrate into NH₂OH under ambient conditions. However, achieving high selectivity and catalytic performance from electrochemical nitrate reduction to NH2OH, especially in acidic media, remains a key challenge, motivating the research presented in this thesis.