Urea synthesis via electrocatalytic C–N coupling of CO2 and nitrate on oxygen-vacancy-rich Co3O4–CuO heterostructure nanowires†
Abstract
Herein, oxygen-vacancy-rich Co3O4–CuO nanowires on Cu foam (Co3O4–CuO/CF) have been prepared for urea electrosynthesis. The Co3O4–CuO heterostructure significantly boosts electron transformation and reaction kinetics, and abundant oxygen vacancies substantially facilitate the adsorption and activation of CO2 and nitrate. As such, the Co3O4–CuO/CF demonstrates an impressive faradaic efficiency of 35.89% and urea yield of 1.12 mg cm−2 h−1, while maintaining exceptional cycle durability.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Chemical Communications HOT articles 2025