Executive Summary : | Urine electro-oxidation (UOR) is a significant energy generation method due to its potential for less energy input for H2 generation, utilization in direct urea fuel cells, and conversion of waste to energy. Replacing water oxidation with UOR in electrochemical water splitting reduces energy demand for cathodic HER by 70%. However, challenges such as catalyst poisoning, degradation, and unwanted side reactions pose challenges to UOR electrocatalysts. Nickel-based catalysts have been reported for enhanced UOR electrocatalysis, but most studies focus on activity achieved under limited conditions without addressing active site poisoning. This study aims to explore the stabilization of high-valent Ni sites in suitable host lattices like Nickelates, which stabilize Ni3+/4+ ions by inductive effect and improve catalytic activity by enhancing charge transfer and electronic structure modulations. The study will screen high-valent Ni catalysts synthesized by sol gel-based methods for their UOR activity using voltammetry, impedance measurements, in-situ IR measurements, UV spectrophotometric analysis of the electrolyte for nitrogen overoxidation, and in-situ XAS to understand the role of Ni oxidation states. Computational studies will be conducted to model surface-active sites and calculate adsorption energies of intermediate species generated during the reaction. This study could reveal a class of efficient UOR catalysts with better COx tolerance, stability, and suppression of undesirable N2 overoxidation, elucidating guidelines for designing UOR electrocatalysts. |