Redirecting Charge Distribution and Spatial Proximity of Co−O−Cu Motif with 4f−2p−3d Orbital Hybridization for High‐Efficiency Urea Electrosynthesis
Electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub>/NO<sub>3</sub> <sup>-</sup> co-reduction to access urea typically relies on the tailored two-site catalysts, with the complexity of C/N-intermediate generation and C─N coupling that limit urea synthesis efficiency. Here, a 4f (Ce)-2p (O)-3d (Co) orbital hybridization maneuver is demonstrated to customize a spin-polarized Co-site and a relatively electron-rich Cu-site for generating *NH<sub>2</sub> and *CO species to undergo C─N coupling to access urea, respectively, delivering a production rate of 2612.4 µg mg<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> at -0.27 V<sub>RHE</sub>, with an ultrahigh Faradaic efficiency (85.7%). Mechanistic investigations elucidate that the 4f-2p-3d motif enables the high-spin Co<sup>2+</sup> (t<sub>2g</sub> <sup>5</sup>e<sub>g</sub> <sup>2</sup>) translation toward low-spin Co<sup>3+</sup> (t<sub>2g</sub> <sup>6</sup>e<sub>g</sub> <sup>0</sup>), which enhances the electronic interaction between the e<sub>g</sub>-orbital of Co and 𝜎-orbital of *NO, favoring *NH<sub>2</sub> formation. Further, the electron-deficient Co<sup>3+</sup>-site formed can act as a localized electron acceptor to manipulate the electron structure of the adjacent Cu-site, strengthening the hybridization degree between the catalyst's Cu 3d and C 2p of CO<sub>2</sub> to foster *CO generation. Then, interposed Ce narrows the Co─O─Cu distance, which spatially benefits *NH<sub>2</sub> and *CO coupling to form the C─N bond, overall promoting urea synthesis. The synergy of electronic interaction and geometric effect offers a feasible paradigm to precisely customize activity centers for high-efficiency waste feedstock valorization.
Authors
- Keping. Wang
- Hu Li
- Mei Wu
- Xihong Lu
- Jinyan Liang
- Song Yang
Institutions
- Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
- Guizhou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Materials
- Published
- 2026-02-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202521702
- Primary Topic
- Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00