CuZn Alloy-Supported Co₃O₄: An Effective CO₂ Electroreduction Catalyst for Selective CO and Alcohol Formation

Transition metal oxide-supported alloys offer a compelling route to overcome the efficiency stability trade-off in the electrochemical reduction of CO₂. Here, we design a series of CuZn alloy nanoparticles (1-10%) supported on cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) to unravel composition-dependent catalytic behavior. Comprehensive characterization by XRD, FESEM-EDX, HRTEM, GC-MS, XPS, CO₂-TPD, and Raman spectroscopy confirms the formation of well-dispersed CuZn domains with strong metal-support interactions and tunable surface basicity. Electrochemical studies in a three-electrode configuration reveal markedly enhanced current densities and redox features under CO₂ compared to Ar, highlighting accelerated charge transfer across the CuZn/Co₃O₄ interface. Product analysis by gas chromatography identifies carbon monoxide (CO) and isopropanol as the primary reduction products, achieving high Faradaic efficiencies at low overvoltage in the case of 2.5% CuZn/Co₃O₄. The optimized CuZn/Co₃O₄ architecture not only stabilizes active sites but also promotes synergistic electron redistribution, steering selective C-C coupling pathways. These findings establish oxide-supported CuZn alloys as a robust and versatile platform for efficient and selective CO₂ electroreduction.