The Discovery
The study introduces a trimetallic catalyst—comprising nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) nanoparticles supported on defective ceria (CeO 2 )—that achieves unprecedented performance in CO 2 reduction. The catalyst demonstrated:
The catalyst's extraordinary efficiency is attributed to the creation of a Strong Metal-Support Interaction (SMSI) between the trimetallic sites and the defective ceria. This unique interaction fine-tunes the electronic structure, enabling optimal performance.
Unveiling the Mechanism
This research relied heavily on advanced in-situ techniques and a multidisciplinary collaboration:
Why It Matters
The conversion of CO 2 to CO is a critical step in transforming carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals and fuels. However, commercial viability has been hindered by low productivity, poor selectivity, and instability of existing catalysts. By leveraging SMSI and defect engineering, this study has overcome these barriers, setting new benchmarks in CO 2 reduction catalysis.
This research not only provides a highly effective catalyst for CO 2 conversion but also offers a blueprint for designing next-generation catalysts through precise electronic structure tuning and defect manipulation.
Future Implications
These findings open new avenues for the development of advanced catalysts for CO 2 utilization and other critical chemical transformations. As Prof. Polshettiwar states, “By combining traditional catalytic materials with cutting-edge defect engineering and SMSI, we’ve shown how to address fundamental limitations in catalysis. The study offers a roadmap for designing advanced catalysts and demonstrates the impact of integrating traditional materials with cutting-edge approaches, offering hope for a sustainable future."
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Experimental study
Tuning the electronic structure and SMSI by integrating trimetallic sites with defective ceria for the CO2 reduction reaction
15-Jan-2025
The authors declare no competing interest.