Recent Advances in Bimetallic Cu-Based Nanocrystals for Electrocatalytic CO Conversion.

An elevated level of anthropogenic CO has been the major cause of global warming, and significant efforts are being made around the world towards the development of CO capture, storage and reuse technologies. Among various CO conversion technologies, electrochemical CO reduction (CO RR) by nanocrystals is one of the most promising strategies as it is facile, quick, and can be integrated with other renewable energy techniques. Judiciously designed catalytic nanomaterials promise to be the next generation of electrochemical electrodes that offer cutting-edge performance, low energy consumption and aid in reducing overall carbon footprint. In this minireview, we highlight the recent developments related to the bimetallic Cu-based nanocatalysts and discuss their structure-property relationships. We focus on the design principles and parameters required for the enhancement of CO conversion efficiency, selectivity, and stability.