Advances in Nanostructured Catalysts for Urea‐Assisted Water Splitting and Zn‐Urea Batteries

Electrochemical water splitting driven by renewable energy provides a sustainable route for generating high-purity hydrogen, yet its efficiency is hampered by the sluggish and economically unfavorable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode. Replacing OER with the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) has emerged as an attractive strategy to reduce energy input and simultaneously achieve wastewater remediation. Nevertheless, the six-electron transfer process of UOR still suffers from kinetic limitations, highlighting the urgent need for robust and cost-effective electrocatalysts. Recent progress has demonstrated that nanostructure-engineered catalysts enable precise regulation of surface electronic structures,…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 22472151