Triethanolamine stabilized non-alkyl Sn 4 Cd 4 and alkyl Sn 2 Cd 12 oxo clusters with distinct electrocatalytic activities.

Two unprecedented Sn/Cd-oxo clusters, including non-alkyltin Sn II 2 Sn IV 2 Cd 4 and alkyltin Sn IV 2 Cd 12 , have been constructed using triethanolamine and inorganic or organic tin precursors, respectively. Comparative electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction experiments show that the presence of non-alkyl and variable-valent tin centres could greatly improve the catalytic activities.