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.