Controlled synthesis of metal-based Janus nanostructures for tandem electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) possesses huge potential for achieving carbon neutrality by reducing greenhouse-gas CO₂ to value-added chemicals/fuels with sustainable energy. However, obtaining highly selective and long-term stable catalysts for CO₂RR is still challenging. Recently, metal-based Janus nanostructures (JNSs) have demonstrated unique advantages in addressing this issue in CO₂RR via tandem catalysis. Herein, we systematically summarize the recently developed metal-based JNSs for electrocatalytic CO₂RR. The synthesis methods are first introduced, including three representative methods (seed-mediated growth, dimerization, and selective-etching) and the strategy for constructing specific facets or unconventional phases in metal-based JNSs. Then, the application of metal-based JNSs in CO₂RR toward the generation of single-carbon and multi-carbon products is elaborated, along with the corresponding catalytic mechanisms. The structural reconstruction of metal-based JNSs is also discussed in detail. Finally, we briefly summarize the recent advances and provide personal perspectives in this research direction.