Reconstruction of Ni-based catalyst for electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction

Electrochemical oxidation of urea is a promising approach for efficient energy conversion and wastewater treatment. Ni-based catalyst have shown great potential for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) due to their high activity, low cost, and earth-abundance. However, the stability and selectivity of Ni-based catalyst remain key challenges. Surface reconstruction of Ni-based catalyst has been identified as an effective strategy to optimize their catalytic performance for UOR by forming the active high-valence NiOOH species. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental mechanisms and kinetics governing the UOR, as well as recent advances in tailoring the surface reconstruction of Ni-based catalyst to enhance their activity, selectivity, and stability. Various reconstruction strategies, including heteroatom doping, defect engineering, and interfacial engineering, and their effects on the electronic structure, active sites, and reaction pathways are discussed. We also highlight the application of diverse Ni-based catalyst, such as alloys, oxides, hydroxides, phosphides, and sulfides, and their structure-activity relationships. The challenges and future research directions in this field are also outlined to provide insights for the rational design of efficient and durable Ni-based catalyst for urea oxidation electrocatalysis.