Twin‐Boundary Cu 2 ‐Pair Pockets Drive Spatial Proximity of Key Intermediates for Efficient Urea Electrosynthesis
Abstract
ABSTRACT Electrocatalytic urea synthesis from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and nitrate (NO 3 − ) offers an alternative to the energy‐intensive Bosch‐Meiser process but is limited by poor selectivity and Faradaic efficiency (FE). Herein, we proposed a defect engineering strategy by constructing ordered Cu nanowire electrocatalysts enriched with abundant twin boundaries (TBs) that can drive spatial proximity between the key intermediates derived from asymmetric activation of CO 2 and optimized adsorption of NO 3 − . Specifically, it could achieve a high FE of 61.81% and a peak yield rate of 5.80 mg h −1 cm −2 for urea production under a three‐electrode configuration. The underlying mechanism can be described as the TB‐induced compression shortening the Cu–Cu bond, creating Cu 2 ‐pair pockets that geometrically matched CO 2 adsorption and enabled asymmetric activation to *CO, further strengthening Cu → CO π back‐donation and building a *CO reservoir. Smoluchowski smoothing rendered ridge Cu sites electron‐deficient, enriching NO 3 − near Cu 2 ‐pair pockets for C–N coupling.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 37
- Pages
- e8722468–e8722468
- Publication date
- 7 July 2026
- Language
- EN