In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the design and surface functionalization of two-dimensional (2D) materials for electrocatalytic carbon–nitrogen (C–N) coupling reactions, with a particular focus on sustainable urea production. Our work aims to address the limitations of the traditional Haber–Bosch process by exploring ambient-condition electrocatalysis using CO₂ and N₂ or NOₓ as feedstocks.
Key Insights
- Sustainable Pathway: Electrocatalytic C–N coupling offers a green route for urea synthesis under ambient conditions.
- 2D Material Platforms: Materials like MoS₂, MXenes, and MOFs provide tunable catalytic properties.
- Surface Functionalization Strategies: Includes heteroatom doping, defect engineering, and molecular functionalization.
- Catalyst Innovations: Single-atom and dual-atom catalysts enhance activation and selectivity.
- Challenges & Future Directions: Addressing low N₂ solubility and complex pathways through reactor and catalyst design.
Significance of the Work
This review underscores the critical role of surface-functionalized 2D materials in advancing electrocatalytic urea synthesis. By integrating theoretical insights with experimental progress, we provide a framework for designing adaptive catalysts capable of operating under mild conditions. Our analysis of reaction mechanisms, intermediate stabilization, and catalyst–substrate interactions offer valuable guidance for future research and industrial translation in the field of green nitrogen–carbon coupling.
Authors & Institutions
- Yue Shang, Dawei Chen, Chen Chen, Shuangyin Wang
State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Advanced Catalytic Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Yue Shang, Dawei Chen
College of Material Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
Corresponding Authors & Emails:
- Dawei Chen – dawechen@qust.edu.cn
- Chen Chen – chenc@hnu.edu.cn
- Shuangyin Wang – shuangyinwang@hnu.edu.cn