Large π-conjugated indium-based metal-organic frameworks for high-performance electrochemical conversion of CO2
Zengqiang Gao, Yue Gong, Yating Zhu, Junjie Li, Li Li, Yongxia Shi, Man Hou, Xuejiao J. Gao, Zhicheng Zhang, Wenping Hu
Abstract
The active site engineering of electrocatalysts, as one of the most economical and technological approaches, is a promising strategy to enhance the intrinsic activity and selectivity towards electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. Herein, an indium-based porphyrin framework (In-TCPP) with a well-defined structure, highly dispersed catalytic center, and good stability was constructed for efficient CO2-to-formate conversion. In-TCPP could achieve a high Faraday efficiency for formate (90%) and a cathodic energy efficiency of 63.8% in flow cells. In situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculation confirm that the crucial intermediate is *COOH species which contributes to the formation of formate. This work is expected to provide novel insights into the precise design of active sites for high-performance electrocatalysts towards electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction.