Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Urea–Water Electrolysis

Abstract

Developing bifunctional electrocatalysts for urea–water electrolysis is important for energy-saving hydrogen production and urea-rich wastewater purification. In this chapter, recent advances in bifunctional electrocatalysts for application in urea–water electrolysis are reviewed. The electrochemical mechanism of urea–water electrolysis is presented first, then efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts are discussed in detail. For urea–water electrolysis, most bifunctional electrocatalysts can attain a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in the voltage range 1.3–1.6 V. Sophisticated catalyst design strategies for improving the catalyst performance are outlined. Finally, perspectives in this field are presented.