Engineering active sites on binary metal selenide heterointerface catalyst to boost urea electrooxidation

Electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) with a low thermodynamic potential is a perfect substitute for anodic oxygen evolution process (OER) in the effective generation of hydrogen. However, because of the slow kinetics of UOR, its potential application for commercial use remains untapped. Nickel-based materials may be an option for urea oxidation reaction but the heavily filled d orbital prevents enhanced adsorption and activity. Here, taking into account the adsorption-energy scaling limitations, Co3+ with partially filled d orbital is introduced into nickel selenide to form a heterointerface catalyst (2D CoSe2/Ni0.85Se) that enhances UOR. As anticipated, the 2D CoSe2/Ni0.85Se electrode displays a low potential of 1.33 V to achieve 100 mA cm−2 for UOR while retaining strong durability for 300 h. Further, 2D CoSe2/Ni0.85Se catalyst is used as an anode in an anion exchange membrane flow electrolyzer, which achieved an industrial-level voltage of 1.91 V at 1 A cm−2 and robust durability. [Display omitted] •We constructed a cost-efficient 2D CoSe2/Ni0.85Se heterointerface.•The synergistic effect within 2D CoSe2/Ni0.85Se enhances catalytic activity.•The 2D CoSe2/Ni0.85Se heterointerface exhibits superior catalytic performance toward UOR.•A single cell AEM flow electrolyzer was constructed and tested.•In situ IRRAS was utilized to identify reaction interfaces for UOR.