Electroreduction of CO2 and nitrate for urea synthesis on a low-coordinated copper catalyst

Electroreduction of CO2 and NO3- to urea (ECNU) offers a fascinating route for migrating NO3- pollutants and synthesizing valuable urea. Herein, low-coordinated copper (L-Cu) is developed as an effective ECNU catalyst, delivering the highest urea yield rate of 30.96 mmol h-1 g-1 and urea-Faradaic efficiency of 50.42% in a flow cell. Theoretical calculations reveal that Cu site and low-coordinated Cu (CuL) site on L-Cu can synergetically promote C-N coupling and inhibit the competing side reactions, leading to a high CO2/NO3--to-urea efficiency.