Nano-Intermetallic InNi3C0.5 Compound Discovered as a Superior Catalyst for CO2 Reutilization

CO2 circular economy is urgently calling for the effective large-scale CO2 reutilization technologies. The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is the most techno-economically viable candidate for dealing with massive-volume CO2 via downstream mature Fischer-Tropsch and methanol syntheses, but the desired groundbreaking catalyst represents a grand challenge. Here, we report the discovery of a nano-intermetallic InNi3C0.5 catalyst, for example, being particularly active, selective, and stable for the RWGS reaction. The InNi3C0.5(111) surface is dominantly exposed and gifted with dual active sites (3Ni-In and 3Ni-C), which in synergy efficiently dissociate CO2 into CO star (on 3Ni-C) and O-star (on 3Ni-In). O-star can facilely react with 3Ni-C-offered H-star to form H2O. Interestingly, CO star is mainly desorbed at and above 400 degrees C, whereas alternatively hydrogenated to CH3OH highly selectively below 300 degrees C. Moreover, this nano-intermetallic can also fully hydrogenate CO-derived dimethyl oxalate to ethylene glycol (commodity chemical) with high selectivity (above 96%) and favorable stability.