Tuning Metal Catalyst with Metal–C3N4 Interaction for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has attracted significant interest in the storage of renewable solar energy and mitigation of environmental issues. Here, we report a strategy to tune metal electrocatalyst by means of metal–substrate interactions to boost CO2RR process. It was found that carbon nitride (C3N4) supported Au nanoparticles (Au/C3N4) exhibit a better performance than carbon-supported Au nanoparticles (Au/C). The combined experimental and theoretical results evidence that Au–C3N4 interaction induces the formation of negatively charged Au surface, which could stabilize the key intermediate *COOH. Similar enhanced CO2RR performance is also observed on C3N4 supported Ag nanoparticles (Ag/C3N4), demonstrating the universality of this strategy for enhancing CO2RR.