Catalyst design strategies for NOx-involved electrocatalytic C–N coupling reactions

Abstract

Electrocatalytic C–N coupling reactions involving NO_x species (NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, and NO) have emerged as a sustainable approach for synthesizing high-value nitrogen-containing chemicals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in catalyst design strategies for enhancing the efficiency and selectivity of NO_x-involved C–N bond formation. Five key strategies are categorized and discussed: defect engineering, coordination environment design, interface engineering, dual-site synergy, and emerging architectures. Regarding each strategy, representative literature cases are summarized to illustrate mechanistic insights and practical applications. By addressing challenges such as intermediate instability, low selectivity, and competing side reactions, these strategies demonstrate great potential for advancing electrocatalytic C–N coupling toward practical implementation. Finally, future directions are proposed, including dynamic catalyst design, microenvironment regulation, and data-driven catalyst screening.