Heterogeneous Catalyzed Electrochemical Conversion of CO2 through C-N Bond Formation

The electrocatalytic transformation of carbon dioxide into valuable chemical compounds has gained increasing significance, particularly in the production of nitrogen-containing species via C-N bond formation. This review is organized around the “nitrogen source as the main thread, the product as the branch, and the mechanism as the underlying logic”, summarizing and discussing the latest research work on the formation of C-N bonds involving CO2 under electrochemical conditions. Firstly, these works are classified by the N-containing substrates (oxynitrides, dinitrogen gas, and ammonia) and productions (urea, amines, amides, carbamates, and amino acids). Then, various types of electrocatalysts are demonstrated in depth, including experimental and theoretical results. Finally, the conclusion is presented as well as the future perspectives.