Materials (May 2024)

Advances in Catalysts for Urea Electrosynthesis Utilizing CO<sub>2</sub> and Nitrogenous Materials: A Mechanistic Perspective

  • Mengfei Zhang,
  • Tianjian Feng,
  • Xuanming Che,
  • Yuhan Wang,
  • Pengxian Wang,
  • Mao Chai,
  • Menglei Yuan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092142
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 9
p. 2142

Abstract

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Electrocatalytic urea synthesis from CO2 and nitrogenous substances represents an essential advance for the chemical industry, enabling the efficient utilization of resources and promoting sustainable development. However, the development of electrocatalytic urea synthesis has been severely limited by weak chemisorption, poor activation and difficulties in C–N coupling reactions. In this review, catalysts and corresponding reaction mechanisms in the emerging fields of bimetallic catalysts, MXenes, frustrated Lewis acid–base pairs and heterostructures are summarized in terms of the two central mechanisms of molecule–catalyst interactions as well as chemical bond cleavage and directional coupling, which provide new perspectives for improving the efficiency of electrocatalytic synthesis of urea. This review provides valuable insights to elucidate potential electrocatalytic mechanisms.

Keywords