CO₂ Reduction and Urea Synthesis on Dual-Atom Catalysts: Toward the Synthesis of C₁, C₂, and C₂₊ Products and Urea

Dual-atom catalysts (DACs) show significant potential for CO₂ catalytic conversion. This study systematically summarizes recent advances for CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) and C-N coupling on DACs in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and thermocatalysis. First, the structure and advantages of DACs for CO₂RR and C-N coupling are briefly reviewed. The structure and classification of DACs are defined by the different metals and different coordination of heteroatoms, and the advantages of DACs are summarized from synergistic, geometric, and electronic effects. Second, different synthesis methods of DACs are briefly summarized, including atomic layer deposition, wet-chemical methods, pyrolysis, and so on. Third, advances of CO₂RR on DACs are systematically reviewed in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and thermocatalysis. Fourth, the mechanisms and advances of the urea synthesis by the C-N coupling reactions between CO₂ and nitrogen sources (N₂, NO₃ ^-, NO₂ ^-, etc.) are systematically reviewed. Finally, the summary and perspective of DACs for CO₂RR and C-N coupling as well as the challenges and opportunities are outlined, which provide insights for the precise design of DACs and in-depth mechanistic studies to foster further advancements of high-performance DACs in CO₂RR and C-N coupling fields.