Urea Electrosynthesis via an Integrated Pd1-Cu Interface Strategy

• • Pd1Cu nanorods achieve a urea yield rate of 102.3 mmol h−1 gcat−1 and a Faradaic efficiency of 42.6% at −0.5 V vs. RHE, outperforming pristine Cu by 2.3-fold in yield and 1.8-fold in FE, demonstrating the critical role of Pd single atoms in enhancing C–N coupling kinetics. • • In situ ATR-SEIRAS and DFT calculations reveal that Pd sites lower the energy barrier for H2O dissociation (ΔG = 0.32 eV) compared to Cu (0.58 eV), facilitating *H supply for nitrate hydrogenation and enabling a balanced *CO/*NH2 ratio, which is essential for selective urea formation. • • The catalyst maintains 92% of its initial urea yield after 10 consecutive electrolysis cycles (each 2 h), indicating robust stability under operating conditions, a key requirement for practical scale-up. • • Compared to the conventional Bosch-Meiser process (150–200 °C, 150–250 bar), this electrosynthesis operates at ambient conditions (25 °C, 1 atm) with renewable electricity, potentially reducing energy consumption by >60% and CO2 emissions by >80%, aligning with green chemistry principles.