Nickel ferrocyanide as a high-performance urea oxidation electrocatalyst

Urea is often present in waste water but can be used powering fuel cells and as an alternative oxidation substrate to electrolyser. However, insufficient mechanistic understanding the lack of efficient catalysts for urea reaction have hampered development such applications. Here we demonstrate that a nickel ferrocyanide (Ni2Fe(CN)6) catalyst supported on Ni foam drive with higher activity better stability than those conventional Ni-based catalysts. Our experimental computational data suggest pathway different from most other comprise NiOOH derivatives catalytically active compound. Ni2Fe(CN)6 appears able directly facilitate two-stage involves intermediate ammonia production (on site) its decomposition N2 Fe site). Owing rate-determining steps more favourable thermal/kinetic energetics, achieves 100 mA cm?2 anodic current density at potential 1.35 V (equal overpotential 0.98 V). could lower-energy hydrogen-producing electrolysers, improved are required reaction. Geng et al. report promising it operates via previous materials.