Advanced engineering of core/shell nanostructures for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction

Abstract

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO₂RR) into useful fuels and chemicals provides a promising avenue to relieve severe energy and environmental crises. Core/shell structures hold enormous potential for the CO₂RR due to the strong synergistic effect and varied electronic modification, although they still suffer from inadequate efficiency and poor selectivity. Recent achievements reveal the advanced engineering of core/shell structures, including strain engineering (e.g., tensile or compressive strain), surface engineering (e.g. surface doping, surface defects, and surface reduction) and phase engineering (e.g., newly formed interfaces), for boosting the CO₂RR activity and selectivity due to their powerful effect on modulating the surface environment, constructing more active sites and interfaces and optimizing conductivity. In this review, we focus on the advanced engineering of core/shell structures as a promising candidate for the CO₂RR. First, the wet-chemical methods for achieving core/shell structures via one-step or multi-step pathways are elaborated. Then we illustrate the important role of these three strategies in optimizing the CO₂RR performance: (1) strain engineering, (2) surface engineering and (3) phase engineering. Finally, we highlight the key issues that need to be resolved and provide an outlook that may be useful for guiding future development of this promising field.