journal article·2026-07

Ambient Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis From CO 2 and N 2 Compartmentalized by Cyclic Cu‐Trinuclear (Cu 3 )‐Ferrocene (Fc) Networking Porous‐Organic‐Polymer

Chandan Biswas, Nilmadhab Mukherjee, Sunidhi Brindavan, Ratul Paul, Naiwrit Karmodak, Uttam Kumar Ghorai, John Mondal

Small· Volume 22· Issue 41
Publisher page

Abstract

ABSTRACT Direct electrocatalytic co‐reduction of N 2 and CO 2 to urea remains constrained by sluggish kinetics and the absence of frameworks capable of concurrently activating both molecules. Herein, we present the first realization of a metalated porous organic polymer ( M‐POP )‐based electrocatalyst, Cu 3 Fc‐Pyz‐POP , derived from in situ formed Cu 3 (pyrazolate) triangular motif and 1,1′‐ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde through a template‐free Schiff base polymerization. The heterometallic Cu–Fe framework hosts atomically dispersed single‐site active centers that cooperatively activate and co‐reduce molecular N 2 and CO 2 , thereby promoting selective urea formation under ambient conditions. Operated in a 0.1 M KHCO 3 electrolyte under ambient conditions, Cu 3 Fc‐Pyz‐POP delivers an exceptional urea yield rate of 115.23 µgh −1 mg −1 and a Faradaic efficiency of 20.68% at –0.6 V vs RHE, surpassing its monometallic analogues. The catalyst exhibits excellent recyclability over 10 cycles and maintains stable performance during 45 h of continuous electrolysis. in situ FT‐IR spectroscopic investigation and DFT computational studies reveal that ferrocene (Fc) moieties facilitate enhanced conductivity with a dramatic decrease of HOMO‐LUMO energy gap and selective C‐N coupling between N 2 and CO 2 intermediates. Our finding establishes M‐POPs as promising platforms for ambient urea electrosynthesis, contributing to energy‐efficient fertilizer production and advancing low‐carbon chemistry.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction · CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts · Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Organic & Medicinal Chemistry Division CSIR‐Indian Institute of Chemical Biology Kolkata India

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) Ghaziabad India

Department of Industrial Chemistry & Applied Chemistry Swami Vivekananda Research Centre Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Howrah India

Department of Chemistry Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence Gautam Buddha Nagar Uttar Pradesh India

Department of Chemistry National Institute of Technology Agartala Tripura India

Funding

Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research

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