Coactivation of Multiphase Reactants for the Electrosynthesis of Urea

N₂ and CO₂ fixation is an environmentally friendly waste-to-energy technology that can replace tedious and demanding industrial urea productive processes. Here, V_N-Cu₃N-300 catalysts with tip and vacancy structures are designed for the coactivation of multiphase reactants in the urea electrosynthesis process. Under environmental conditions, the urea yield is 81 µg h⁻¹ cm⁻², this is the first report of high area active electrocatalyst, and the corresponding Faraday efficiency is able to reach 28.7%. The full-cell electrolysis exhibits good stability, providing a current density of 0.7 mA cm⁻² at 2.1 V. The electrolyte after continuous electrolysis for 48 h is subjected to being evaporated and recrystallized, and it is determined by ¹H NMR that the purity of urea can reach 100%. Comprehensive analysis shows that the local electric field formed by the tip effect can effectively promote the adsorption and activation of CO₂. The presence of surface nitrogen vacancies promotes the formation of *NN* intermediates, ensuring CN coupling, and also optimizing the dissociation process of water, providing a proton supply for the synthesis of urea. Thus, the rate-determining step is altered and the formation of urea is ensured.