Urea oxidation reaction (UOR) has garnered significant attention in recent years as a promising and sustainable clean-energy technology. Urea-containing wastewater poses severe threats to the environment and human health. Numerous studies hence focus on developing UOR as a viable process for simultaneously remediating wastewater and converting it into energy. Moreover, UOR, which has a thermodynamic potential of 0.37 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), shows great promise in replacing the energy-intensive oxygen evolution reaction (OER; 1.23 V vs RHE). The versatility and stability of urea, particularly at ambient temperatures, make it an attractive alternative to hydrogen in fuel cells. Since UOR entails a complex intermediate adsorption/desorption process, many studies are devoted to designing cost-effective and efficient catalysts. Notably, transition metal-based materials with regulated d orbitals have demonstrated significant potential for the UOR process. However, comprehensive reviews focusing on transition metal-based catalysts remain scarce. In light of this, the review aims to bridge the gap by offering an in-depth and systematic overview of cutting-edge design strategies for transition metal-based catalysts and their diverse applications in UOR. Additionally, the review delves into the status quo and future directions, charting the course for further advancements in this exciting field.

中文翻译：

---

用于尿素氧化反应 (UOR) 的过渡金属基催化剂：催化剂设计策略、应用和未来展望

尿素氧化反应（UOR）作为一种有前途且可持续的清洁能源技术近年来引起了人们的广泛关注。含尿素废水对环境和人类健康构成严重威胁。因此，许多研究都集中在开发 UOR 作为一种可行的工艺，同时修复废水并将其转化为能源。此外，UOR的热力学势为0.37 V（相对于可逆氢电极，RHE），在取代能量密集型析氧反应（OER；1.23 V vs RHE）方面显示出巨大的前景。尿素的多功能性和稳定性，特别是在环境温度下，使其成为燃料电池中氢的有吸引力的替代品。由于 UOR 需要复杂的中间吸附/解吸过程，因此许多研究致力于设计经济高效的催化剂。值得注意的是，具有受调控d轨道的过渡金属基材料已显示出 UOR 工艺的巨大潜力。然而，针对过渡金属基催化剂的全面综述仍然很少。有鉴于此，该综述旨在通过对过渡金属基催化剂的前沿设计策略及其在 UOR 中的多样化应用进行深入和系统的概述来弥合这一差距。此外，该评论还深入探讨了现状和未来方向，为这一令人兴奋的领域的进一步发展制定了路线。