Electrocatalytic synthesis of urea from carbon dioxide and nitrate using single-site catalysts

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Carsten Streb
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Analytical Chemistry
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 565959534

Urea is a globally used chemical feedstock and fertilizer. Industrial urea production is based on the energy-intensive Bosch-Meiser process where CO2 and NH3 are thermochemically reacted at high temperature and high pressure. An alternative, environmentally benign and sustainable approach to this process is the direct electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide and nitrate to urea under mild conditions. This route proceeds by the simultaneous carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) and nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) using sustainble electricity. This project proposes the development of tailor-made mono- or hetero-metallic Cu-based single-site catalysts (SSCs) for the electrosynthesis of urea by coupled CO2RR and NO3RR. The project combines concepts from the synthesis of novel SSCs and their application in urea electrosynthesis with mechanistic studies using in-situ/operando spectro-electrochemical techniques and theoretical calculations. In the first funding period, the project will develop atomically precise monometallic Cu-SSCs and heterometallic CuM-SSCs (M= Ag, Co, Ni, Sn) anchored on electrically conductive, 2D-nanostructured N-doped carbon supports. Characterization of the catalyst reactivity and selectivity will be performed using in-situ/operando spectro-electrochemical UV-Vis, IR, Raman and X-ray absorption spectro-electrochemistry. Complementary density functional theory calculations will allow us to rationalize reactivity on the atomic level. These insights will be used to elucidate processes which limit reactivity and selectivity. This forms the basis for the development of advanced, noble metal-free electrocatalysts for urea production.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Taiwan
• Partner Organisation: National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Bing Joe Hwang