Efficient Electrochemical‐Enzymatic Conversion of PET to Formate Coupled with Nitrate Reduction Over Ru‐Doped Co <sub>3</sub> O <sub>4</sub> Catalysts
Jiadi Jiang, Leting Zhang, Guanzheng Wu, Jianrui Zhang, Yidong Yang, Wenhui He, Jun Zhu, Jian Zhang, Qing Qin
Abstract
Abstract Electrochemical reforming presents a sustainable route for the conversion of nitrate (NO 3 − ) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into value‐added chemicals, such as ammonia (NH 3 ) and formic acid (HCOOH). However, its widespread application has been constrained by low selectivity due to the complexity of reduction processes and thus energy scaling limitations. In this study, the atomically dispersed Ru sites in Co 3 O 4 synergistically interact with Co centers, facilitating the adsorption and activation of hydroxyl radicals (OH * ) and ethylene glycol (EG), resulting in a remarkable HCOOH selectivity of 99% and a yield rate of 11.2 mmol h −1 cm −2 surpassing that of pristine Co 3 O 4 (55% and 3.8 mmol h −1 cm −2 ). Furthermore, when applied as a bifunctional cathode catalyst, Ru‐Co 3 O 4 achieves a remarkable Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.5% for NH 3 production (3.54 mmol h −1 cm −2 ) at ‐0.3 V versus RHE. Additionally, we developed a prototype device powered by a commercial silicon photovoltaic cell, enabling on‐site solar‐driven production of formate and NH 3 through enzyme‐catalyzed PET and NO 3 − conversion. This study offers a viable approach for waste valorization and green chemical production, paving the way for sustainable energy applications.