Applications of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and their derivates in electrochemical reduction of CO₂

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (ECR) is an efficient approach to alleviate environment and energy crisis for its high technological and economic feasibility. To date, massive studies demonstrated that zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are optimal for CO2 capture, which is a pivotal precondition for the subsequent reduction steps. Additionally, ZIFs are promising candidates as catalysts, precursors, or carriers for their adjustable metal sites, ligands, and porosity, tremendous progress has been made in applying ZIFs in ECR applications in recent years. Herein, the review summarized the recent works focusing on applying ZIFs and ZIFsderivatives for ECR. including reaction mechanism, application strategies, and catalytic performance analysis, aiming to provide a basis for future design and synthesis of highly active and selective ZIFs and ZIFs-derivatives electrocatalysts in this direction.