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Research Article | Open Access

Self-supported nano-Ru anchored copper-cobalt oxide nanoplates for efficient electrocatalytic removal of low concentration nitrate

Jiao Hu1,5, Jun Zhou1,2, Menglin Zhou1, Yao Huang2( ), Xuguang An3, Dong Fang4 ( ), Guangzhi Hu1,5 ( )
Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River-Lake Networks, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650504, China
School of Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Open University, Kunming 650223, China
School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming 650092, China
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Abstract

Nitrate (NO3−) contamination in water adversely affects human health and the ecosystem. Electrochemical methods can remediate environmental NO3− pollution. This study developed Ru-Cu2O/Co3O4@copper foam (CF), a hierarchical catalyst comprising a CF substrate, Cu-Co layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets, and ultrasmall Ru nanoparticles. Traditional characterization confirmed its active component composition and chemical oxidation states. Studies on electrochemical NO3− reduction have evaluated catalytic efficacy under various conditions. This catalyst exhibits exceptional efficacy in NO3− catalysis. At −1.61 V vs. Ag/AgCl, it converts 50 mg/L NO3−–N into pure, environmentally friendly N2 after 4 h, achieving a 98.44% removal efficiency and approximately 100% selectivity, enabling efficient NO3− elimination and green N conversion. Throughout 20 cycles, the removal rate of NO3−–N remained consistently high (94.19%–99.53%), whereas N2 selectivity exhibited excellent stability (93.62%–100%).

Graphical Abstract

This work demonstrates the electrochemical reduction of nitrate (NO3−) to innocuous N2 on copper foam, utilizing a Ru-Cu2O/Co3O4 catalyst. The Ru-Cu2O/Co3O4@copper foam (CF) catalyzed the reduction of NO3− to NH4+, the oxidation of Cl− to HClO at the anode with the addition of NaCl, and the conversion of NH4+ to N2, thereby accomplishing complete denitrification. The green route for the remediation of nitrate-polluted water is facilitated by the hierarchical structure, which ensures stable performance.

Keywords

nitrate pollutionelectrocatalysisdenitrificationN2 selectivity

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Nano Research
Volume 19 Issue 8,
August 2026
Article number: 94908836
DOI: 10.26599/NR.2026.94908836

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Cite this article:
Hu J, Zhou J, Zhou M, et al. Self-supported nano-Ru anchored copper-cobalt oxide nanoplates for efficient electrocatalytic removal of low concentration nitrate. Nano Research, 2026, 19(8): 94908836. https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908836
Topics:
Catalyst activityElectrolytic reduction Selective catalytic reduction

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Received: 02 April 2026
Revised: 29 April 2026
Accepted: 11 May 2026
Published: 22 June 2026
© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Tsinghua University Press.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).