Reaction-driven formation of anisotropic strains in FeTeSe nanosheets boosts low-concentration nitrate reduction to ammonia

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58940-x
• Publication Date: 2025-04-15T23:30:07Z
• Authors: Jiawei Liu; Yifan Xu; Ruihuan Duan; Mingsheng Zhang; Yue Hu; Mengxin Chen; Bo Han; Jinfeng Dong; Carmen Lee; Loku Singgappulig...; Okkyun Seo; Jochi Tseng; Takeshi Watanabe; Zheng Liu; Qiang Zhu; Jianwei Xu; Man-Fai Ng; Dongshuang Wu; Qingyu Yan
• Keywords: Ammonia production

FeM (M = Se, Te) chalcogenides have been well studied as promising magnets and superconductors, yet their potential electrocatalysts is often considered limited due to anion dissolution oxidation during electrochemical reactions. Here, we show that by using two-dimensional (2D) FeTeSe nanosheets, these conventionally perceived limitations can be leveraged enable the reaction-driven in-situ generation of anisotropic in-plane tensile out-of-plane compressive strains alkaline low-concentration nitrate reduction reaction (NO3-RR). The reconstructed catalyst demonstrates enhanced performance, yielding ammonia with a near-unity Faradaic efficiency high yield rate 42.14 ± 2.06 mg h-1 mgcat-1. A series operando synchrotron-based X-ray measurements ex-situ characterizations, alongside theoretical calculations, reveal strain formation ascribed chalcogen vacancies created partial Se/Te leaching, which facilitate adsorption dissociation OH-/NO3- from electrolyte, resulting in an O(H)-doped strained lattice. Combined computational investigations suggest superior catalytic performance arises synergistic contributions exposed Fe sites surface hydroxyl groups. These findings highlight 2D transition metal for structural engineering reactions enhance activity NO3-RR beyond.