Multidimensional engineering of ZIF-8-based electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction: a mini review

The electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) represents a pivotal technology for mitigating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality, by utilizing renewable energy to transform CO₂ into valuable chemical feedstocks. However, the inherent stability of CO₂ molecules and the competing hydrogen evolution reactions necessitate the development of efficient, cost-effective catalysts. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), especially zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), are increasingly recognized as attractive materials for catalytic applications, due to their tunable structures, high porosity, and well-defined active sites. Despite such progress, challenges such as poor electrical conductivity and limited selectivity hinder their practical application. This review systematically examines recent advancements in enhancing ZIF-8-based electrocatalysts for the CO₂RR through multidimensional structural engineering strategies. Key approaches include lattice engineering for optimizing morphology and size, modulating the coordination microenvironment via chemical doping, constructing heterogeneous interfaces to design composite catalysts, and topological transformation to derive high-performance materials. By correlating structural modifications with catalytic performance, this work elucidates design principles for activity. Additionally, this work also discusses future development directions for ZIF-8-based catalysts according to the current research results, aiming to provide guidance for the rational design of next-generation MOF-based catalysts for sustainable CO₂ conversion and energy storage.