Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis From CO 2 and N 2 /NO 3 − : Bridgi
Fulin Dong, Ruihan Zhang, Huiyu Lou, Tianshi Gao, Guangjin Zhang, Menglei YuanABSTRACT
Electrocatalytic urea synthesis enables the co‐conversion of CO 2 and N 2 /NO 3 − under ambient conditions and offers a sustainable alternative to conventional energy‐intensive processes. This review systematically summarizes the NO 3 − + CO 2 and N 2 + CO 2 systems in terms of feedstock properties, catalyst design, reaction mechanisms, performance optimization, and engineering applications. The NO 3 − + CO 2 system, benefiting from facile NO 3 − activation and high aqueous accessibility, has achieved significant improvements in efficiency and selectivity through rate matching and side‐reaction suppression, with performance approaching practical viability. The N 2 + CO 2 system, though more sustainable in feedstock, remains constrained by the high N≡N bond energy and low solubility, with current research focusing on N 2 activation and intermediate regulation, while performance still lags considerably. The two systems differ markedly in nitrogen activation pathways and regulatory mechanisms, corresponding to distinct developmental stages and application potentials. Finally, challenges and future directions are outlined in terms of catalyst design, mechanistic studies, reactor engineering, and standardized evaluation, providing guidance for the construction of efficient systems and their scale‐up applications.