Green Urea Production via Electrocatalytic C-N Coupling

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR) technology has emerged as a highly promising strategy to address the pressing environmental and energy challenges posed by the excessive emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). As a key approach to mitigating climate change, CO2RR offers a pathway to convert CO2, a major greenhouse gas, into valuable chemicals and fuels, thereby helping reduce atmospheric CO2 levels while simultaneously generating products that can be integrated into existing energy and chemical supply chains. To further enhance the versatility and impact of this technology, coupling CO2 reduction with the reduction of nitrogen-containing (N) pollutants from wastewater presents a unique and innovative approach. Nitrogen-based pollutants, such as nitrates (NO3⁻), are pervasive in industrial and agricultural wastewater, contributing to water pollution and eutrophication of ecosystems. I propose to combine simultaneous reduction of CO2 and NO3⁻ via C-N coupling to enable the synthesis of higher-value compounds, such as urea, a crucial fertilizer widely used in modern agriculture. If successful, the proposed approach will bypass the highly carbon- and energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, which accounts for nearly 2% of global energy consumption and releases over 1 gigaton of CO2 each year. This goal of this project is to develop new strategies for co-designing catalyst surfaces and electrolyte environments to promote the coupling of C- and N- intermediates while suppressing side reactions, such as hydrogen evolution (HER) or over-reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NO3RR). 

Describe how your background, skills, and research interests align with this opportunity. How would you contribute to the success of this project and the broader goal of sustainability?