Iron Atoms Research Articles

Mechanism of Peroxynitrite Interaction with Ferric M. tuberculosis Nitrobindin: A Computational Study.

Nitrobindins (Nbs) are all-β-barrel heme proteins present along the evolutionary ladder. They display a highly solvent-exposed ferric heme group with the iron atom being coordinated by the proximal His residue and a water molecule at the distal position. Ferric nitrobindins (Nb(III)) play a role in the conversion of toxic peroxynitrite (ONOO-) to harmless nitrate, with the value of the second-order rate constant being similar to those of most heme proteins. The value of the second-order rate constant of Nbs increases as the pH decreases; this suggests that Nb(III) preferentially reacts with peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH), although ONOO- is more nucleophilic. In this work, we shed light on the molecular basis of the ONOO- and ONOOH reactivity of ferric Mycobacterium tuberculosis Nb (Mt-Nb(III)) by dissecting the ligand migration toward the active site, the water molecule release, and the ligand binding process by computer simulations. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed by employing a steered molecular dynamics approach and the Jarzynski equality to obtain ligand migration free energy profiles for both ONOO- and ONOOH. Our results indicate that ONOO- and ONOOH migration is almost unhindered, consistent with the exposed metal center of Mt-Nb(III). To further analyze the ligand binding process, we computed potential energy profiles for the displacement of the Fe(III)-coordinated water molecule using a hybrid QM/MM scheme at the DFT level and a nudged elastic band approach. These results indicate that ONOO- exhibits a much larger barrier for ligand displacement than ONOOH, suggesting that water displacement is assisted by protonation of the leaving group by the incoming ONOOH.

A Vacuum Vapor Deposition Strategy to Fe Single-Atom Catalysts with Densely Active Sites for High-Performance Zn-Air Battery.

Iron single-atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered increasing attention as highly efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yet their performance in practical devices remains suboptimal due to the low density of accessible active sites. Anchoring iron single atoms on 2D support is a promising way to increase the accessible active sites but remains difficult attributing to the high aggregation tendency of iron atoms on the 2D support. Herein, a vacuum vapor deposition strategy is presented to fabricate an iron SAC supported on ultrathin N-doped carbon nanosheets with densely active sites (FeSAs-UNCNS). Experimental analyses confirm that the FeSAs-UNCNS achieves densely accessible active sites (1.11×1020sitesg-1) in the configuration of Fe─N4O. Consequently, the half-wave potential of FeSAs-UNCNS in 0.1m KOH reaches a remarkable value of 0.951V versus RHE. Moreover, when employed as the cathode of various kinds of Zn-air batteries, FeSAs-UNCNS exhibits boosting performances by achieving a maximum power density of 306mWcm-2 and long cycle life (>180h) at room temperature, surpassing both Pt/C and reported SACs. Further investigations reveal that FeSAs-UNCNS facilitates the mass and charge transfer during catalysis and the atomic configuration favors the desorption of *OH kinetically.

Microbes vary strategically in their metalation of mononuclear enzymes

Studies have determined that nonredox enzymes that are cofactored with Fe(II) are the most oxidant-sensitive targets inside Escherichia coli. These enzymes use Fe(II) cofactors to bind and activate substrates. Because of their solvent exposure, the metal can be accessed and oxidized by reactive oxygen species, thereby inactivating the enzyme. Because these enzymes participate in key physiological processes, the consequences of stress can be severe. Accordingly, when E. coli senses elevated levels of H2O2, it induces both a miniferritin and a manganese importer, enabling the replacement of the iron atom in these enzymes with manganese. Manganese does not react with H2O2 and thereby preserves enzyme activity. In this study, we examined several diverse microbes to identify the metal that they customarily integrate into ribulose-5-phosphate 3-epimerase, a representative of this enzyme family. The anaerobe Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, like E. coli, uses iron. In contrast, Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis use manganese, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae uses zinc. The latter organisms are therefore well suited to the oxidizing environments in which they dwell. Similar results were obtained with peptide deformylase, another essential enzyme of the mononuclear class. Strikingly, heterologous expression experiments show that it is the metal pool within the organism, rather than features of the protein itself, that determine which metal is incorporated. Further, regardless of the source organism, each enzyme exhibits highest turnover with iron and lowest turnover with zinc. We infer that the intrinsic catalytic properties of the metal cannot easily be retuned by evolution of the polypeptide.

Combating Atherosclerosis with Chirality/Phase Dual-Engineered Nanozyme Featuring Microenvironment-Programmed Senolytic and Senomorphic Actions.

Senescence plays a critical role in the development and progression of various diseases. This study introduces an amorphous, high-entropy alloy nanozyme-based therapeutic designed to combat senescence. We start by screening ligands to optimize the synthesis of the amorphous nanozyme. By adjusting the nanozyme's composition and surface properties, we analyze its catalytic performance under both normal and aging conditions, confirming that peroxide and superoxide dismutase activity are crucial for its anti-aging therapeutic function. Subsequently, we validate the chiral-dependent therapeutic effects and demonstrate the senolytic performance of D-handed PtPd2CuFe across several aging models. Through proteomic and transcriptome analyses, we explore the mechanism underlying the senolytic action exerted by nanozyme in depth. We confirm that exposure to senescent conditions led to the enrichment of copper and iron atoms in the nanozyme's lower oxidation states, disrupting the iron-thiol cluster in mitochondria and lipoic acid transferase, as well as oxidizing unsaturated fatty acids. These actions triggered a cascade of cuproptotic and ferroptotic cell death. Additionally, we found that the nanozyme's anti-aging effects depend on concentration. Even an ultra-low dose of the therapeutic can act as a senomorphic, reducing the effects of senescence. Given its broad-spectrum action and concentration-adjustable anti-aging potential, we confirmed the remarkable therapeutic capability of D-handed PtPd2CuFe in managing atherosclerosis, a disease involving various types of senescent cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Vibrational spectroscopic detection of radiation-induced structural changes in Chironomus hemoglobin

PurposeChironomus hemoglobin is known to exhibit higher gamma radiation resistance compared to human hemoglobin. In the present study, we have introduced a sensitive method to analyze radiation-induced alterations in Chironomus hemoglobin using Vibrational spectroscopy and further highlighting its potential for monitoring radiotoxicity in aquatic environments. Materials and methodsVibrational spectroscopic methods such as Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to capture the distinctive chemical signature of Chironomus hemoglobin (ChHb) under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Any radiation dose-dependent shifts could be analyzed Human hemoglobin (HuHb) as standard reference. ResultsDistinctive Raman peak detected at 930 cm-1 in (ChHb) was attributed to C–N stretching in the heterocyclic ring surrounding the iron atom, preventing heme degradation even after exposure to 2400 Gy dose. In contrast, for (HuHb), the transition from deoxy-hemoglobin to met-hemoglobin at 1210 cm-1 indicated a disruption in oxygen binding after exposure to 1200 Gy dose. Furthermore, while ChHb exhibited a consistent peak at 1652 cm-1 in FT-IR analysis, HuHb on the other hand, suffered damage after gamma irradiation. ConclusionThe findings suggest that vibrational spectroscopic methods hold significant potential as a sensitive tool for detecting radiation-induced molecular alterations and damages. Chironomus hemoglobin, with its robust interaction of the pyrrole ring with Fe, serves as a reliable bioindicator molecule to detect radiation damage using vibrational spectroscopic method.

Antibacterial efficacy of Rumex dentatus leaf extract-enriched zinc oxide and iron doped zinc nanoparticles: a comparative study

In the current investigation, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles were sustainably synthesized utilizing an extract derived from the Rumex dentatus plant through a green synthesis approach. The Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques were used to examine the compositional, morphological, optical, and thermal properties of both samples. The doping of iron into ZnO NPs has significantly influenced their properties. The analysis firmly established that both ZnO NPs and Fe-doped ZnO NPs have hexagonal wurtzite structures and spherical shapes by XRD and SEM. The EDX analysis suggests that iron atoms have been successfully integrated into the ZnO lattice. The change in color observed during the reaction indicated the formation of nanoparticles. The UV–vis peaks at 364 nm and 314 nm confirmed the presence of ZnO NPs and Fe-doped ZnO NPs, respectively. The band gap of ZnO NPs by Fe dopant displayed a narrowing effect. This indicates that adding iron ions to ZnO NPs offers a control band gap. The thermal study TGA revealed that Fe-doped ZnO NPs remain stable when heated up to 600 °C. The antibacterial efficacy of ZnO NPs and Fe-doped ZnO NPs was evaluated against several bacterial strains. The evaluation is based on the zone of inhibition (ZOI). Both samples exhibited excellent antibacterial properties as compared to conventional pharmaceutical agents. These results suggest that synthesizing nanoparticles through plant-based methods is a promising approach to creating versatile and environmentally friendly biomedical products.

Spin disorder control of topological spin texture

Stabilization of topological spin textures in layered magnets has the potential to drive the development of advanced low-dimensional spintronics devices. However, achieving reliable and flexible manipulation of the topological spin textures beyond skyrmion in a two-dimensional magnet system remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the introduction of magnetic iron atoms between the van der Waals gap of a layered magnet, Fe3GaTe2, to modify local anisotropic magnetic interactions. Consequently, we present direct observations of the order-disorder skyrmion lattices transition. In addition, non-trivial topological solitons, such as skyrmioniums and skyrmion bags, are realized at room temperature. Our work highlights the influence of random spin control of non-trivial topological spin textures.

Facile functionalization iron in zeolitic imidazole framework-67 under solvent-free conditions for enhancing CO2 fixation reaction

The heterometal functionalization on zeolitic-imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) is a strategy to modify properties over the homometal ZIFs. A green strategy for simultaneously functionalized iron atoms during the crystal formation of ZIF-67 (Fe@ZIF-67) through the solid-solid thermal (SST) method is newly developed. The single-step process and absent solvent conditions are beneficial advantages of this SST method over the early reported synthetic methods. The results show that the iron is well-dispersed and homogeneously coordinated in the structure of Fe@ZIF-67. Moreover, the optimal iron-functionalized ZIF-67 (20Fe@ZIF-67) significantly enhances the catalytic performance of CO2 cycloaddition epoxide by 2.3 times compared to pristine ZIF-67 under mild reaction conditions. The DFT calculation reveals that the iron atom induces the unsaturated sites or defect structure on the Fe@ZIF-67 catalyst, providing more reactive sites for the catalytic activity of the reaction.

Assessing the metronidazole adsorption by an iron-enhanced nanocone along with DFT calculations regarding the conjugated system formations for developing the drug delivery platforms

By the importance of developing novel drug delivery platforms, the current research work was done to assess the metronidazole (MET) adsorption by an iron-enhanced nanocone (FeCON) along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations regarding the MET@FeCON conjugated complex systems formations. Comparing the results by a pure nanocone (CON) model showed benefits of the iron-enhancement for approaching suitable MET@FeCON conjugated complex systems. A managing role of iron atom was also observed for the formation of complexes, in which the results were in a comparable mode for the formation of strong interactions inside the complexes. Variations of frontier molecular orbitals and their related features leaded to the evaluation of characteristic features and monitoring significant variations from the singular state to the complex state or even among the complexes. In this case, the models were also distinguishable for being monitored among the conjugations formations. As a result, the models were found suitable regarding the developments of drug delivery platforms in both terms of conjugations formations and electronic features detections.

A Volcano Correlation between Catalytic Activity for Sulfur Reduction Reaction and Fe Atom Count in Metal Center.

Sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) facilitates up to 16 electrons, which endows lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with a high energy density that is twice that of typical Li-ion batteries. However, its sluggish reaction kinetics render batteries with only a low capacity and cycling life, thus remaining the main challenge to practical Li-S batteries, which require efficient electrocatalysts of balanced atom utilization and site-specific requirements toward highly efficient SRR, calling for an in-depth understanding of the atomic structural sensitivity for the catalytic active sites. Herein, we manipulated the number of Fe atoms in iron assemblies, ranging from single Fe atom to diatomic and triatomic Fe atom groupings, all embedded within a carbon matrix. This led to the revelation of a "volcano peak" correlation between SRR catalytic activity and the count of Fe atoms at the active sites. Utilizing operando X-ray absorption and X-ray diffraction spectroscopies, we observed that polysulfide adsorption-desorption and electrochemical conversion kinetics varied up and down with the incremental addition of even a single iron atom to the catalyst's metal center. Our results demonstrate that the metal center with exactly two iron atoms represents the optimal configuration, maximizing atom utility and adeptly handling the conversion of varied intermediate sulfur species, rendering the Li-S battery with a high areal capacity of 23.8 mAh cm-2 at a high sulfur loading of 21.8 mg cm-2. Our results illuminate the pivotal balance between atom utilization and site-specific requirements for optimal electrocatalytic performance in SRR and diverse electrocatalytic reactions.

Twinning initiation from edge dislocations pinned by hydrogen atoms in bcc iron: A molecular dynamics study

Understanding how hydrogen affects the slip and twinning behaviors in metals is paramount for ensuring safe material use in a hydrogen environment and contributing to the development of hydrogen-resistant structural metals. Despite recent reports highlighting an increase in hydrogen-induced twinning in metals under applied deformations, the root case remains elusive. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how high hydrogen concentrations and shear direction affect edge-dislocation behavior in bcc iron. Our findings reveal that the pinning effect increases with hydrogen density along the dislocation line. This effect becomes more pronounced when shear is applied along the twinning direction. We demonstrate the nucleation of micro-twinning, characterized by a three atomic-layer thickness, originating from the dislocation under these conditions. The growth mechanism of this phenomenon aligns with Mahajan's model. Our findings identify the high shear stress as the primary driver for twinning, owing to the hydrogen's strong pinning effect.

Synergistic inhibition of Mikania micrantha extract with iodide ion on the corrosion of cold rolled steel in trichloroacetic acid medium

The corrosion inhibition behavior of Mikania micrantha extract (MME) and iodide ion in a synergistic system consisting of 0.10 M trichloroacetic acid (Cl3CCOOH, TCA) on cold rolled steel (CRS) materials and its mechanism was fully investigated by weightlessness, electrochemical, and surface analysis measurements. The results show that MME/I− performs higher inhibition than either MME or I− with a peak inhibition efficiency of 96.3 %. The adsorption of MME, I− and MME/I− on CRS follow with Langmuir isotherm. MME/I− retards both anodic and cathodic reactions. With the MME/I− complex inhibitor, the capacitance arc radius reaches a maximum. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that there were obvious adsorbent films on the surface of the suppressed CRS. Compositional analysis of surface adsorbates on CRS by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) revealed that the main components of the adsorption film on the surface of CRS contained a large number of polar compounds, notably the formation of chemical bonds by iron atoms.

Microstructure and properties of 316 L lattice/Al composites by additive manufacturing and infiltration with different temperature

Interface between lattice reinforcement and matrix played a key factor on properties of the lattice reinforced aluminum matrix composites. However, the effect of interface composed of intermetallic compounds on the properties of 316L lattice/Al composites was still unclear. In this study, 316L lattice reinforced aluminum composite with continuous interface were prepared by combining laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and vacuum infiltration, and effect of infiltration temperature on interface evolution and properties of the composite was investigated. Results indicated that a continuous dual-phase interfacial layer consisting of hard intermetallic compounds η-Fe2Al5 and θ-FeAl3 was formed between the reinforcement and matrix due to diffusion and reaction of iron and aluminum atoms, and the size of needle-type FeAl3 phase in the interfacial zone increased when infiltration temperature was up from 800 °C to 900 °C. It also confirmed that reinforced by 316L lattice and hard intermetallic compounds layer, the composite showed excellent mechanical and wear resistant properties, with compressive strength of 657 ± 32MPa and specific wear rate of 0.20 × 10−3 (mm3/N·m) for the sample prepared at 800 °C, which were over 10 times and one fifth of that of the aluminum matrix individually. This study provides a new strategy for developing 316L lattice/Al composites with excellent properties.

Study on the inhibition mechanism of corrosion under inert deposit-covered X65 steel by three corrosion inhibitors

In order to solve the problem of under-deposit corrosion caused by typical inert minerals in oil and gas fields, three corrosion inhibitors with small molecular weight thiourea (TU), oil-soluble alkyl imidazoline (IM) and water-soluble thiourea imidazoline (TAI) were selected. The corrosion inhibition effect and mechanism of the them under SiO2 and CaCO3 deposit were studied by surface analysis, electrochemical analysis and theoretical calculations. The results show that TU, IM and TAI can adsorb on the metal surface through the deposits, and the corrosion inhibition efficiency is η(TAI) > η(TU) > η(IM). TU and TAI are mixed corrosion inhibitors that inhibit both the cathode and the anode reactions, and the thiourea group in TU and TAI can form coordination chemical bonds with the empty d orbital of iron atoms as electron-rich regions. Due to hydrophobic groups, the adsorption film formed by TAI on the metal surface is denser. However, it is difficult for IM to form a continuous protective corrosion inhibitor film under the two deposits, so it shows poor corrosion inhibition performance.

Coupling Process between Droplet and Iron Investigated by Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

The droplet-to-iron electrochemical reaction is common in nature and industrial production, and it causes damage to the economy, safety, and the environment. The electrochemical reaction of droplet-to-iron is a coupling process of wetting and corrosion. Presently, investigations into electrochemical reactions mainly focus on the corrosions caused by a solution, and wetting is rarely considered. However, for the droplet-to-iron electrochemical reaction, the mechanism of charge transfer in the process is still unclear. In this paper, a reactive molecular dynamics simulation model for the droplet-to-iron electrochemical reaction is developed for the first time. The electrochemical reaction of droplet-to-iron is studied, and the interaction between droplet wetting and corrosion on iron is investigated. The effects of temperature, electric field strength, and salt concentration on the electrochemical reaction are explored. Results show that droplet wetting on the iron surface and the formation of a single-molecular-layer ordered structure are prerequisites for corrosion. The hydroxyl radicals that penetrate the ordered structure acquire electrons from iron atoms on the substrate surface under the action of Coulomb forces and form iron-containing oxides with these iron atoms. The corrosion products and craters lead to a reduced droplet height, which promotes droplet wetting on iron and further intensifies the droplet-to-iron electrochemical reaction.

Advancements in multiferroic, dielectric, and impedance properties of copper–yttrium co-doped cobalt ferrite for hydroelectric cell applications

This paper explores yttrium and copper co-doped cobalt ferrite [Co1−x Cu x Fe1.85Y0.15O4] synthesized via the sol–gel auto-combustion route (0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.08). Investigating the impact of co-dopants on CoFe2O4, the study reveals altered cation distribution affecting the structure, multiferroic, and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction studies show nanocrystalline co-doped cobalt ferrites with lattice expansion and smaller grains due to Cu–Y co-doping. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms inverse spinel family classification with tetrahedral lattice shrinkage. Field emission scanning electron microscopy indicates a grain size of approximately 0.12 μm. Ferroelectric analysis reveals a peak saturation polarization of 23.42 μC cm−2 for 8% copper doping, attributed to increased Fe3+ ions at tetrahedral sites. Saturation magnetization peaks at 54.4706 emu g−1 for 2% Cu2+ ion substitution [Co0.98Cu0.02Fe1.85Y0.15O4] and decreases to 37.09 emu g−1 for 4% Cu substitution due to irregular iron atom distribution at tetrahedral sites. Dielectric studies uncover Maxwell–Wagner polarization and high resistance in grain and grain boundaries using impedance spectroscopy. Fabricated hydroelectric cells exhibit improved ionic diffusion, suggesting their use in potential hydroelectric cell applications.

FeNC with atomically dispersed iron atoms as a photosensitizer for combined photodynamic and photothermal therapy

This research explores the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) in combating chemotherapy-resistant diseases. This study focuses on enhancing tumor treatment effectiveness by leveraging the synergetic effects of combining PDT and PTT through the development of Fe-nitrogen-carbon (FeNC) nanoparticles with superior photostability. These nanoparticles, functioning as photosensitizers for the combined PDT/PTT treatment, can generate both type I and type II ROS and heat upon 808 nm irradiation. Notably, the FeNC nanoparticles demonstrate an exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency (34 %), surpassing commonly used PTT photosensitizers. In vitro and in vivo experiments corroborate the efficiency of FeNC as a photosensitizer in achieving significant tumor inhibition. In conclusion, the FeNC nanoparticles present promising applicability in the synergistic PTT/PDT treatment of tumors.

Numerical Analysis of the Influence of a Magnetic Field on the Group Dynamics of Iron-Doped Carbon Nanotori

Columnar phases consisting of a group of carbon toroidal molecules (C120, C192, C252, C288) are studied numerically. Each nanotorus was previously doped with an iron atom. This made it possible to use an external magnetic field as a tool for influencing both an individual molecule and a linear fragment of the columnar phase. A high-precision scheme for calculating the dynamics of large molecules with a rigid frame structure is proposed to solve the problem. The group dynamics of nanotori clusters under the influence of an external magnetic field has been studied using classical molecular dynamics methods. The influence of the molecular cluster size, temperature, magnetic moment of the molecule, and magnetic field direction on the collective behavior of iron-doped toroidal molecules with different contents of carbon atoms is analyzed. Molecular dynamics calculations showed that systems of nanotori doped with a single iron atom retain a columnar structure both in the absence and in the presence of an external magnetic field. The columnar fragment behaves as a stable linear association of molecules even at sufficiently high values of magnetic induction, performing a coordinated collective orbital rotation around a common center of mass on a nanosecond time scale.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of novel ammonium-derived dihydroxyl ionic liquid as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1 M HCl: Effects of dihydroxyl and head groups

A novel ammonium-derived dihydroxyl ionic liquid ([C16DPOA]Br) and a control ionic liquid ([C16DPA]Br) are synthesized to reveal the effect of dihydroxyl and head groups on their inhibition property via the weight-loss method, surface analysis, electrochemical measurements, and adsorption isotherm studies. [C16DPOA]Br exhibits the optimal inhibition ability (93.47 %) for mild steel in 1 M HCl in contrast to [C16DPA]Br (88.03 %) and the traditional cationic surfactant CTAB (92.34 %). Based on the experimental results, it can be inferred that the short alkyl chain (propyl) impedes the tight alignment of [C16DPA]Br on the metal surface and the interactions between hydroxyl and iron atoms enable [C16DPOA]Br to overcome the negative effects of the short alkyl chain on the inhibition property. Finally, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) distribution and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation verify the reactive sites and adsorption capacity of corrosion inhibitors from the microscopic scale, which further confirms the proposed mechanism. This study focuses on the significance of dihydroxyl and head groups on the inhibition property and provides unique insights into the development of efficient ionic liquid corrosion inhibitors.

Electronic Structure Modulation Via Iron-Incorporated NiO to Boost Urea Oxidation/Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The urea-assisted water splitting not only enables a reduction in energy consumption during hydrogen production but also addresses the issue of environmental pollution caused by urea. Doping heterogeneous atoms in Ni-based electrocatalysts is considered an efficient means for regulating the electronic structure of Ni sites in catalytic processes. However, the current methodologies for synthesizing heteroatom-doped Ni-based electrocatalysts exhibit certain limitations, including intricate experimental procedures, prolonged reaction durations, and low product yield. Herein, Fe-doped NiO electrocatalysts were successfully synthesized using a rapid and facile solution combustion method, enabling the synthesis of 1.1107 g within a mere 5 min. The incorporation of iron atoms facilitates the modulation of the electronic environment around Ni atoms, generating a substantial decrease in the Gibbs free energy of intermediate species for the Fe-NiO catalyst. This modification promotes efficient cleavage of C-N bonds and consequently enhances the catalytic performance of UOR. Benefiting from the tunability of the electronic environment around the active sites and its efficient electron transfer, Fe-NiO electrocatalysts only needs 1.334 V to achieve 50 mA cm-2 during UOR. Moreover, Fe-NiO catalysts were integrated into a dual electrode urea electrolytic system, requiring only 1.43 V of cell voltage at 10 mA cm-2.