Single-Atom Rh<sub>1</sub> Alloyed Co for Urea Electrosynthesis from CO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup>
Yuying Wan, Zhuoyan Zhang, Jinmei Qian, Yicheng Wei, Jilong Kang, Ke Chu
Abstract
Single-atom Rh 1 alloyed Co (Rh 1 Co) is explored as an efficient catalyst for urea electrosynthesis via coelectrolysis of CO 2 and NO 3 – (UECN). Theoretical calculations and in situ spectroscopic measurements unravel the synergetic effect of Co and Rh 1 in promoting the UECN process, where the Rh 1 site activates NO 3 – to form *NH 2, while the Co site activates CO 2 to form *CO. The formed *CO then desorbs from the Co site and transfers to the Rh 1 site, followed by continuous C–N coupling with *NH 2 formed on the Rh 1 site to synthesize urea. Remarkably, Rh 1 Co assembled in a flow cell delivers the exceptional urea yield rate of 24.9 mmol h –1 g –1 and Faradaic efficiency of 51.1%, outperforming most previously reported UECN catalysts.