Earth-abundant elements a sustainable solution for electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate

Platinum group elements (PGEs) are widely-used electrocatalysts. However, the low abundance of PGEs in earth's crust and high environmental impacts to be acquired result costs, limiting their use drinking water treatment. Identifying sustainable alternatives is a major barrier applying electrocatalysis for nitrate reduction. By moving up periodic table, this study provides framework selecting promising earth-abundant that can electrocatalytically degrade innocuous by-products. We benchmarked platinum (Pt) against less-endangered electrodes by quantifying reduction rates, by-product selectivity, energy efficiencies. Carbon (as boron-doped diamond) tin had highest average selectivity towards nitrogen gas evolution (55 % 64 %, respectively) outperforming Pt, which only 1% comparable electrical per order removal nitrate. Thus, hold tremendous promise as innovative, low-cost, processes treatment marketplace.