ZIF-8 Regulates ZnO Facilitates the Efficient Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to CO

The electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 using renewable electricity offers a sustainable approach for the production of valuable chemicals. However, this process is often hindered by low catalytic activity and poor selectivity. In this study, we have developed a novel electrocatalyst that integrates ZIF-8-regulated ZnO interfaces, undercoordinated surface sites, and mesoporous nanostructures. This design enabled the ZnO/ZIF-8 catalyst to achieve excellent CO2 conversion performance, with a CO2 Faraday efficiency of more than 91% over the potential range of -1.0 V to -1.6 V and a high current density compared to reversible hydrogen electrodes. At the optimal potential of -1.4 V, the CO Faraday efficiency reaches 95.57%, accompanied by a current density of -8.16 mA/cm2. The porous nature and superior CO2 adsorption ability of the ZIF-8 shell layer foster an optimal setting for CO2 conversion while enhancing the exposure of active sites. Additionally, the synergistic coupling of ZnO and ZIF-8 interfaces fine-tunes the electronic structure of the active sites, thereby enhancing CO2RR efficiency.