Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Cages Encapsulating CuZn Alloy for Enhanced CO₂ Reduction

CuZn alloy, regarded as the active sites, shows excellent catalytic activity for the reverse water gas shift reaction, whereas the incorporation of N atoms, especially pyridinic N, can greatly improve its catalytic properties because of the strong promotion capacity for adsorption and activation of CO₂ molecules. Herein, the synthesis strategy involving Cu-doped Zn-based metal-organic frameworks is utilized to prepare CuZn alloy coated in an N-doped carbon shell. The excellent catalytic ability for CO₂ transformation originates from the synergistic catalytic effect between CuZn alloy and pyridinic N. The strong adsorption and activation capacity for CO₂ of pyridinic N is ascribed to the lone pair of electrons on the N atom and the high electron density in its vicinity.