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Efficient urea electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide and nitrate via alternating Cu–W bimetallic C–N coupling sites

Author

Listed:
  • Yilong Zhao

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Yunxuan Ding

    (Westlake University)

  • Wenlong Li

    (Dalian University of Technology
    Westlake University)

  • Chang Liu

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Yingzheng Li

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Ziqi Zhao

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Yu Shan

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Fei Li

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Licheng Sun

    (Dalian University of Technology
    Westlake University
    Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

  • Fusheng Li

    (Dalian University of Technology)

Abstract

Electrocatalytic urea synthesis is an emerging alternative technology to the traditional energy-intensive industrial urea synthesis protocol. Novel strategies are urgently needed to promote the electrocatalytic C–N coupling process and inhibit the side reactions. Here, we report a CuWO4 catalyst with native bimetallic sites that achieves a high urea production rate (98.5 ± 3.2 μg h−1 mg−1cat) for the co-reduction of CO2 and NO3− with a high Faradaic efficiency (70.1 ± 2.4%) at −0.2 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the combination of stable intermediates of *NO2 and *CO increases the probability of C–N coupling and reduces the potential barrier, resulting in high Faradaic efficiency and low overpotential. This study provides a new perspective on achieving efficient urea electrosynthesis by stabilizing the key reaction intermediates, which may guide the design of other electrochemical systems for high-value C–N bond-containing chemicals.

Suggested Citation

  • Yilong Zhao & Yunxuan Ding & Wenlong Li & Chang Liu & Yingzheng Li & Ziqi Zhao & Yu Shan & Fei Li & Licheng Sun & Fusheng Li, 2023. "Efficient urea electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide and nitrate via alternating Cu–W bimetallic C–N coupling sites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40273-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40273-2
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