Overcoming Electrostatic Interaction via Pulsed Electroreduction for Boosting the Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis

Abstract Electrocatalytic urea synthesis under ambient conditions offers a promising alternative strategy to the traditional energy‐intensive urea industry protocol. Limited by the electrostatic interaction, the reduction reaction of anions at the cathode in the electrocatalytic system is not easily achievable. Here, we propose a novel strategy to overcome electrostatic interaction via pulsed electroreduction. We found that the reconstruction‐resistant CuSiO x nanotube, with abundant atomic Cu−O−Si interfacial sites, exhibits ultrastability in the electrosynthesis of urea from nitrate and CO 2 . Under a pulsed potential approach with optimal operating conditions, the Cu−O−Si interfaces achieve a superior urea…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22325101, 22261003, 52303268
• BA
  Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Award: 2021A1515110196