Fabrication of dual atomic copper-indium (CuIn) catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction to methanol

Dual atomic copper-indium (CuIn) catalysts (CuIn-DACs) have been fabricated by metal-organic framework (MOF) derivation strategy for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to methanol with high selectivity, in which Cu and In atoms are simultaneously introduced in MOF. The introduction of indium modulates the electronic structure of Cu atoms. The neighbouring Cu-In dual atomic sites inhibit the hydrogen evolution reaction and promote the conversion of CO2 to methanol because of the synergistic effect between Cu and In. CuIn-DACs exhibit higher selectivity to methanol than single atomic Cu catalysts.