Previous Article in Journal
Theoretical Investigation of O2 and CO2 Adsorption on Small PdNi Clusters Supported on N-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots
Previous Article in Special Issue
Fracture Mechanics of Tetragraphene: Effects of Structural Variations and Loading Conditions
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
C
Volume 11
Issue 3
10.3390/c11030044
carbon-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Bimetallic Copper–Indium Co-Doped Titanium Dioxide Towards Electrosynthesis of Urea from Carbon Dioxide and Nitrate

by
Youcai Meng
1,
Tianran Wei
1,
Zhiwei Wang
1,
Caiyun Wang
2,*,
Junyang Ding
1,
Yang Luo
3,4 and
Xijun Liu
1,*
1
MOE Key Laboratory of New Processing Technology for Nonferrous Metals and Materials, School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
2
Guangxi Vocational & Technical Institute of Industry, Nanning 530001, China
3
Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
4
China Huadian Corporation Ltd. (CHD), Beijing 100031, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
C 2025, 11(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030044 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 24 April 2025 / Revised: 12 June 2025 / Accepted: 24 June 2025 / Published: 27 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of C — Journal of Carbon Research)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Electrocatalytic urea synthesis offers great potential for sustainable strategies through CO2 and NO3− reduction reactions. However, the development of high-performance catalysts is often hampered by the complexity of synthetic methodologies and the unresolved nature of C-N coupling pathways. In this study, we present a copper–indium co-doped titanium dioxide (CuIn-TiO2) catalyst that exhibits remarkable efficacy in enhancing the synergistic reduction of CO2 and NO3− to produce urea. The bimetallic CuIn site functions as the primary active site for the C-N coupling reaction, achieving a urea yield rate of 411.8 μg h−1 mgcat.−1 with a Faradaic efficiency of 6.7% at −0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE). A body of experimental and theoretical research has demonstrated that the nanoscale particles enhance the density of active sites and improve the feasibility of reactions on the surface of TiO2. The co-doping of Cu and In has been shown to significantly enhance electronic conductivity, increase the adsorption affinity for *CO2 and *NO3−, and promote the C-N coupling process. The CuIn-TiO2 catalyst has been demonstrated to effectively promote the reduction of NO3- and CO2, as well as accelerate the C-N coupling reaction. This effect is a result of a synergistic interaction among the catalyst’s components.
Keywords: bimetallic doping; C-N coupling; titanium dioxide; urea electrosynthesis; catalyst design bimetallic doping; C-N coupling; titanium dioxide; urea electrosynthesis; catalyst design

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Meng, Y.; Wei, T.; Wang, Z.; Wang, C.; Ding, J.; Luo, Y.; Liu, X. Bimetallic Copper–Indium Co-Doped Titanium Dioxide Towards Electrosynthesis of Urea from Carbon Dioxide and Nitrate. C 2025, 11, 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030044

AMA Style

Meng Y, Wei T, Wang Z, Wang C, Ding J, Luo Y, Liu X. Bimetallic Copper–Indium Co-Doped Titanium Dioxide Towards Electrosynthesis of Urea from Carbon Dioxide and Nitrate. C. 2025; 11(3):44. https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030044

Chicago/Turabian Style

Meng, Youcai, Tianran Wei, Zhiwei Wang, Caiyun Wang, Junyang Ding, Yang Luo, and Xijun Liu. 2025. "Bimetallic Copper–Indium Co-Doped Titanium Dioxide Towards Electrosynthesis of Urea from Carbon Dioxide and Nitrate" C 11, no. 3: 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030044

APA Style

Meng, Y., Wei, T., Wang, Z., Wang, C., Ding, J., Luo, Y., & Liu, X. (2025). Bimetallic Copper–Indium Co-Doped Titanium Dioxide Towards Electrosynthesis of Urea from Carbon Dioxide and Nitrate. C, 11(3), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/c11030044

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop