Sequential co-reduction of nitrate and carbon dioxide enables selective urea electrosynthesis

Abstract Despite the recent achievements in urea electrosynthesis from co-reduction of nitrogen wastes (such as NO 3 − ) and CO 2 , the product selectivity remains fairly mediocre due to the competing nature of the two parallel reduction reactions. Here we report a catalyst design that affords high selectivity to urea by sequentially reducing NO 3 − and CO 2 at a dynamic catalytic centre, which not only alleviates the competition issue but also facilitates C−N coupling. We exemplify this strategy on a nitrogen-doped carbon catalyst, where a spontaneous switch between NO 3 − and CO 2 reduction paths is enabled by reversible hydrogenation on the nitrogen functional groups. A high urea yield rate of 596.1 µg mg…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22109003, 52373223, 22308322
• SG
  State Grid Corporation of China

  Award: 5108-202218280A-2-439-XG
• BA
  Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Awards: 2020A1515110843, 2023A1515011391