Bismuth Single Atoms Resulting from Transformation of Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Use as Electrocatalysts for CO 2 Reduction

The electrocatalytic reduction reaction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a promising strategy to promote the global carbon balance and combat global climate change. Herein, exclusive Bi-N4 sites on porous carbon networks can be achieved through thermal decomposition of a bismuth-based metal–organic framework (Bi-MOF) and dicyandiamide (DCD) for CO2RR. Interestingly, in situ environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) analysis not only directly shows the reduction from Bi-MOF into Bi nanoparticles (NPs) but also exhibits subsequent atomization of Bi NPs assisted by the NH3 released from the decomposition of DCD. Our catalyst exhibits high intrinsic CO2 reduction activity for CO conversion, with a high Faradaic…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51631001, 51501010, 21871159, 21890383, 21671117, 51872030, 51702016
• SK
  State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology

  Award: ZDKT18-01
• BI
  Beijing Institute of Technology Research Fund Program for Young Scholars