Nano-Intermetallic InNi₃C_0.5 Compound Discovered as a Superior Catalyst for CO₂ Reutilization

CO₂ circular economy is urgently calling for the effective large-scale CO₂ reutilization technologies. The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is the most techno-economically viable candidate for dealing with massive-volume CO₂ via downstream mature Fischer-Tropsch and methanol syntheses, but the desired groundbreaking catalyst represents a grand challenge. Here, we report the discovery of a nano-intermetallic InNi₃C_0.5 catalyst, for example, being particularly active, selective, and stable for the RWGS reaction. The InNi₃C_0.5(111) surface is dominantly exposed and gifted with dual active sites (3Ni-In and 3Ni-C), which in synergy efficiently dissociate CO₂ into CO* (on 3Ni-C) and O* (on 3Ni-In). O* can facilely react with 3Ni-C-offered H* to form H₂O. Interestingly, CO* is mainly desorbed at and above 400°C, whereas alternatively hydrogenated to CH₃OH highly selectively below 300°C. Moreover, this nano-intermetallic can also fully hydrogenate CO-derived dimethyl oxalate to ethylene glycol (commodity chemical) with high selectivity (above 96%) and favorable stability.