Affiliation:
1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University Nanchang 330013 P. R. China
2. State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics Provincial Hunan Key Laboratory for Graphene Materials and Devices College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering the National Supercomputer Centre in Changsha Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
Abstract
AbstractSelective electrosynthesis of urea from carbon source (CO2) and nitrogen (N2, NO3−, NO2−) source provides a sustainable strategy for production of essential nitrogen‐based fertilizers. The traditional technology of urea synthesis employs two consecutive processes, synthesis of NH3 from N2+H2 and urea from NH3+CO2, which always involves high energy consumption and environmental concerns. By contrast, urea electrosynthesis avoids the above harsh steps and meanwhile has higher atomic economy. Herein, we present a comprehensive review on the progress and prospect of urea electrosynthesis from abundant carbon and nitrogen sources via coupling of C−N under ambient conditions, and also discuss the mechanism researches, strategies of substrates activation, current challenges and future opportunities of urea electrosynthesis. The urea electrosynthesis via C−N coupling realizes abundant and low‐cost inorganic carbon and nitrogen sources for efficient resource utilization and provides guidance and reference for C−C, C−S or other coupling reactions.
Funder
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation