Sharif, HMA, Pan, G, Wang, Y, Abbas, Y ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1047-6953, Mahmood, Asif ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6438-438X and Li, C (2026) Interfacial Control in Cu–MXene Hybrids Enables Selective NOx-to-NH3 Electroconversion: A Critical Review. Advanced Science, 13 (41). ISSN 2198-3844

Abstract

Electrochemical conversion of nitrogen oxides (NO<inf>x</inf>, mainly NO and NO<inf>2</inf>) to ammonia (NH<inf>3</inf>) transforms a pollutant into a valuable chemical, providing a direct link between emissions control and low-carbon NH<inf>3</inf> production under mild conditions. However, NO<inf>x</inf> reduction competes with hydrogen evolution (HER) and can diverge to N<inf>2</inf>/N<inf>2</inf>O, while many catalysts restructure under bias, making results difficult to compare and design rules hard to extract. Cu-MXene hybrids are emerging as a compelling platform because the 2D interface can be engineered to control adsorption, electron (e⁻) transfer, and local proton (H⁺) activity through Cu speciation (single sites, clusters, oxides, reconstructed surfaces) and MXene terminations/defects. This critical review summarizes the interfacial control of these catalysts to achieve selective NO<inf>x</inf>-to-NH<inf>3</inf> electroconversion. The review provides a comprehensive analysis of intermediates and performance, quantifying using device-relevant metrics (Faradaic efficiency, NH<inf>3</inf> yield/partial current, energy efficiency, durability, and selectivity against N<inf>2</inf>/N<inf>2</inf>O and HER). Special emphasis is placed on reactor design, including flow-cell and gas-diffusion electrode (GDE) configurations, which enhance mass transport, stabilize the three-phase boundary, and enable long-term operational stability. Finally, the review emphasizes the use of in situ/operando methods to investigate the reaction mechanisms, outlines design rules and scale-up priorities for practical NO<inf>x</inf> upcycling into green ammonia.

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