Issue 3, 2024

Urea catalytic oxidation for energy and environmental applications

Abstract

Urea is one of the most essential reactive nitrogen species in the nitrogen cycle and plays an indispensable role in the water-energy-food nexus. However, untreated urea or urine wastewater causes severe environmental pollution and threatens human health. Electrocatalytic and photo(electro)catalytic urea oxidation technologies under mild conditions have become promising methods for energy recovery and environmental remediation. An in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanisms of the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is important to design efficient electrocatalysts/photo(electro)catalysts for these technologies. This review provides a critical appraisal of the recent advances in the UOR by means of both electrocatalysis and photo(electro)catalysis, aiming to comprehensively assess this emerging field from fundamentals and materials, to practical applications. The emphasis of this review is on the design and development strategies for electrocatalysts/photo(electro)catalysts based on reaction pathways. Meanwhile, the UOR in natural urine is discussed, focusing on the influence of impurity ions. A particular emphasis is placed on the application of the UOR in energy and environmental fields, such as hydrogen production by urea electrolysis, urea fuel cells, and urea/urine wastewater remediation. Finally, future directions, prospects, and remaining challenges are discussed for this emerging research field. This critical review significantly increases the understanding of current progress in urea conversion and the development of a sustainable nitrogen economy.

Graphical abstract: Urea catalytic oxidation for energy and environmental applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
03 Nov. 2023
First published
03 Janv. 2024

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024,53, 1552-1591

Urea catalytic oxidation for energy and environmental applications

X. Gao, S. Zhang, P. Wang, M. Jaroniec, Y. Zheng and S. Qiao, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, 53, 1552 DOI: 10.1039/D3CS00963G

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