Co-doped Pd nanocrystals for efficient electrosynthesis of urea via C–N coupling reaction from nitrate and CO2

Abstract

The electrocatalytic C–N coupling reaction between CO₂ and nitrate to synthesize urea presents a promising green and environmentally friendly alternative to the energy-intensive traditional urea production methods. In this study, we propose a Co₁₀-Pd@CF catalyst that delivers an optimal urea production rate of 339.53 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻² with a current density of −15 mA cm⁻² at an ultra-low overpotential of −0.15 V vs. RHE, while maintaining stable performance without activity degradation over 72 h of continuous operation.