LAUSR

Electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilization, powered by renewable energy, are essential to achieving net-zero emissions and CO2 valorization. While remarkable progress has been made in catalysts, solution design, and system engineering, recent breakthroughs reveal that nitrogen-containing molecules—specifically sp2-hybridized structures (e.g., pyridine) and sp3-hybridized moieties (e.g., ethanolamine) —hold untapped potential to revolutionize both CO2 capture and conversion. These structures have been demonstrated as the Holy Grail in facilitating CO2 activation, stabilizing key intermediates, and streamlining reaction pathways—capabilities rarely achievable with conventional strategies. However, limited mechanistic understanding of their physicochemical properties and interactions with CO2 hampers broader application. This review highlights recent advances in leveraging sp2/sp3-hybridized nitrogen structures, unpacks their molecular roles in electrochemical CO2 management, and offers a unifying framework for their dual-functionality across capture and conversion. By illuminating these nitrogen-based motifs, we uncover practical design principles and open avenues for integrating expanded N-containing compounds into energy technologies—paving the way for next-generation carbon management strategies.