Progress in Regulating Electronic Structure Strategies on Cu-Based Bimetallic Catalysts for CO2 Reduction Reaction

To address the ever-increasing CO 2 concentration problem in the atmospheric air which arisen by massive consumption of fossil fuels, electrocatalytic technologies that reduce CO 2 to generate high value-added products have been gaining increasing interest. Cu-based CO 2 reduction catalysts have attracted widespread attention owing to their capabilities of generating C 1 and C 2+ products. However, Cu-based catalysts are highly challenged by their low product selectivity. Recently, Cu-based bimetallic catalysts have been found the unique catalytical activity and the selectivity in CO 2 reduction reactions (CO 2 RR). The incorporation of another metals can respectively change the electronic circumstance of Cu-based catalysts, promoting the adsorption ability of the intermediate products and consequently leading to higher selectivity. In this minireview, we intend to summarize recent advances of Cu-based bimetallic catalysts in producing CO, HCOOH, and C 2+ products by designing heterostructure, alloy, defects and surface modification. We pay special attention to the regulation of electronic structure of the composite catalysts, as well as insights on the relationship between electronic property and catalytical performance for Cu-based bimetallic catalysts.