# SNU and Korea University team engineers Ni–N–C catalyst for 3–15% dilute CO2 feeds

- Published: 2026-11-06 17:28 UTC
- Section: Science › Chemistry
- Tags: CO2 electroreduction, Ni-N-C catalyst, dilute CO2, pyridinic nitrogen, Seoul National University, single-atom catalyst
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-7c364c598c80645c3c3b2e1e_snu_and_korea/

**Pyridinic-nitrogen enrichment in single-atom catalysts creates a molecular relay that maintains efficient electro-reduction under industrial flue-gas concentrations.**

![SNU and Korea University team engineers Ni–N–C catalyst for 3–15% dilute CO2 feeds](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/615813b3e43aacb3.jpg)
*Earth-Rare, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

Researchers from Seoul National University, Sogang University, and Korea University demonstrated that molecular-level control of nitrogen environments in Ni–N–C single-atom catalysts enables efficient direct electrochemical reduction of dilute carbon dioxide, according to a study published in Nature Communications [1]. Industrial flue gases typically contain 3–15% CO2, conditions under which direct electro-reduction has historically suffered from mass transport limitations and competing hydrogen evolution reactions [1].

## Nitrogen site configuration

To bypass upstream gas purification, the team focused on regulating the local coordination shell around isolated nickel sites rather than modifying the metal center alone [1]. By tuning the ratio of pyridinic nitrogen to pyrrolic nitrogen within well-defined Ni–Nx architectures, the researchers tracked how non-metal atomic neighbors direct reaction kinetics under CO2-starved conditions [1].

## Adduct relay mechanism

Electronic-state analysis and density functional theory calculations revealed that pyridinic nitrogen forms a reversible adduct with carbon dioxide [1]. This interaction enhances local CO2 concentration directly adjacent to the active nickel center through a continuous desorption and re-adsorption relay mechanism [1].

The authors reported that this neighboring motif regulates reactant availability without altering the intrinsic reaction pathway of the Ni–N site [1]. The findings establish a transferable molecular design principle for single-atom electrocatalysts operating under low CO2 partial pressures [1].

## Sources

1. [Nature Communications](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-79247-5)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-7c364c598c80645c3c3b2e1e_snu_and_korea/