Zn-Sb Bimetallic Electrocatalyst Enhances the Conversion of CO 2 to Formate.

It was discovered the bimetallic Zn-Sb nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes can electrocatalyze CO 2 into formate efficiently, comprising the best performance to date for Sb-based catalysts under moderate overpotential. This project was accomplished by a versatile two-step alcoholysis precipitation strategy with tunable Zn : Sb ratios, and the performance of optimized Zn 2.33 Sb 0.67 O 4 was locked in the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction. During the subsequent electrolysis, the mixed phases of metallic Zn and Sb served as active centers. The Zn-Sb heterostructure and the electron relocation were confirmed. By means of interactions and possible additional binding sites for reaction intermediate *OCHO, the material displayed different catalytic properties from either Zn or Sb, and was selective for formate up to 92%, which was ca. 6.1 times or 4.6 times than that of each single component. The encouraging results highlight the power of the interaction between binary metallic components to synergistically electrocatalyze CO 2 conversion.