20 May. 2022, our Review Article “Electrochemical Reactions Towards the Formation of Heteroatomic Bonds beyond CO2 and N2 Reduction” has been accepted by Sustainable Energy & Fuels

20 May. 2022, our Review Article “Electrochemical Reactions Towards the Formation of Heteroatomic Bonds beyond CO2 and N2 Reduction” has been accepted by Sustainable Energy & Fuels

Shivaraj B. Patil and Di-Yan Wang*

Abstract

Contemporary, electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) have gained enormous attention as they are recognised as green and sustainable alternatives for production of various value-added fossil fuels and ammonia (NH3), respectively. Recently, prodigious efforts have been devoted in exploring different catalysts, different products while trying to understand the reaction mechanisms by detecting intermediates using in-situ techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Currently, the research focus is shifting from obtaining C1 compounds to C2+ compounds on CO2RR and producing NH3 from nitrate (NO3ˉ). Herein, we have summarized various reaction mechanisms reported for producing different compounds including C–C, C–H, and N–H bond formation on CO2RR and NRR. Factors affecting the formation of different compounds on CO2RR is resourcefully illustrated. Furthermore, electrocatalytic formation of heteroatomic C–N bond is exemplified along with reaction mechanisms. Finally, we presented our view on challenges and opportunities in heteroatomic bond formation. This perspective may ignite robust research in developing potential electrochemical systems with dynamic catalysts beyond C–H, N–H, and C–C bond formation.