Gels· 2026Q1· Review
Aerogel Electrocatalysts for Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion: Materials Development, Reaction Mechanisms, and Reactor Integration
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Aerogel networks may not offer a specific advantage in nitrate-to-ammonia conversion electrodes once fabricated, as their unique architecture's relevance is hard to distinguish from catalyst chemistry and preparation methods.
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Key points
- The relevance of aerogel architecture in nitrate conversion electrodes is difficult to separate from catalyst chemistry and electrode preparation.
- Metallic, carbon-based, and hybrid aerogels are compared based on preparation, structure, reaction evidence, and operating conditions.
- Dry surface area, isolated spectroscopic signals, and performance under different conditions do not alone establish an aerogel-specific advantage.
- Future research should focus on comparing retained vs. fragmented aerogel networks and coupling intermediate transport measurements with catalyst reconstruction.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Electrochemical nitrate reduction can combine nitrogen removal with ammonia recovery, but the contribution of an aerogel network is difficult to separate from changes in catalyst chemistry and electrode preparation. This review examines when the architecture created by gelation and drying remains relevant after electrode fabrication and during nitrate conversion. Metallic, carbon-based, and hybrid aerogels are compared through their preparation, working-state structure, reaction evidence, and operating conditions. Particular attention is given to nitrate activation, downstream hydrogenation, soluble-intermediate retention, and competition with hydrogen evolution and nitrogen formation. Related non-aerogel studies provide mechanistic and reactor comparisons while retaining their distinct material identities. The analysis separates measured responses from proposed pathways and distinguishes peak Faradaic efficiency from sustained conversion and product recovery. Dry surface area, isolated spectroscopic signals, and performance measured under different conditions do not independently establish an aerogel-specific advantage. Priorities emerging from the literature are comparisons of retained and fragmented networks, coupled measurements of intermediate transport and catalyst reconstruction, and nitrogen balances under defined feed and recovery conditions. These comparisons provide a basis for evaluating which aerogel design features remain useful in a working nitrate-conversion device.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Gels, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Catalysis
CatalysisChemical Engineering