Boosting the efficiency of urea synthesis via cooperative electroreduction of N2 and CO2 on MoP. Issue 1 (30th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiao, Dongxu; Dong, Yilong; Cui, Xiaoqiang; Cai, Qinghai; Cabrera, Carlos R.; Zhao, Jingxiang; Chen, Zhongfang
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 11:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2022-11-30
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ta07531h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : By combining theoretical and experimental efforts, we designed the MoP-(101) surface and explored its potential as catalyst for urea production. Abstract : By combining theoretical and experimental efforts, we designed the MoP-(101) surface and explored its potential as catalyst for urea production. Our computations revealed that N2 and CO2 reactants can be effectively reduced to urea on the MoP-(101) surface with a low limiting potential (−0.27 V); the competitive side reactions are well suppressed, and the *NHCONH species is a key reaction intermediate for the C–N coupling during urea synthesis. Our experimental measurements confirmed the above theoretical predictions: urea synthesis was achieved with the urea formation rate of 12.4 μg h −1 mg −1 and the faradaic efficiency of 36.5%. This work not only highlights the critical role of the abundant Mo active sites for urea electrosynthesis but also provides a new mechanism for C–N coupling, which may be used to further develop other efficient electrocatalysts.