Issue 32, 2024

Electrochemical strategies for urea synthesis via C–N coupling of integrated carbon oxide–nitrogenous molecule reduction

Abstract

The electrochemical coupling of C and N has sparked considerable research attention, heralded as a capable method to curb carbon and nitrogen emissions while concurrently storing surplus renewable electricity in valuable chemical compounds such as urea, amides, and amines. Electrocatalytic urea synthesis via a C–N coupling reaction (CNCR) comprises the electroreduction of CO2 alongside the coreduction of various inorganic nitrogen sources (NO3, NO2, N2, and NO). However, the main hurdles for this electrochemical C–N coupling are the inert nature of the involved molecules and the prevalence of competing side reactions. This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in electrocatalytic C–N coupling, emphasizing the various mechanistic pathways involved in urea production, including the CO2 reduction and NO3 reduction reaction. Additionally, electrochemical key performance parameters and future advancement directions for electrocatalytic urea production are discussed. The electrochemical CNCR accomplishes effective resource use and delivers direction and reference for molecular coupling reactions. The insights gleaned from these observations may illuminate the development of effective catalysts in forthcoming research and expand the potential applications in green urea production.

Graphical abstract: Electrochemical strategies for urea synthesis via C–N coupling of integrated carbon oxide–nitrogenous molecule reduction

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
26 Dzi 2024
Accepted
01 Maw 2024
First published
03 Maw 2024

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024,12, 20691-20716

Electrochemical strategies for urea synthesis via C–N coupling of integrated carbon oxide–nitrogenous molecule reduction

J. Theerthagiri, K. Karuppasamy, G. Maia, M. L. Aruna Kumari, A. Min, C. J. Moon, M. K. R. Souza, N. Vadivel, A. P. Murthy, S. Kheawhom, A. Alfantazi and M. Y. Choi, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12, 20691 DOI: 10.1039/D4TA02891K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements