Leveraging intramolecular electrostatics to boost electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction

In a recent issue of Chem Catalysis, McCrory et al. present bimetallic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) electrocatalysts. They demonstrate that a heterometallic molecular Co-Zn catalyst, with each metal nestled into a separate pyridyldiimine ligand pocket, operates faster and more efficiently than the Co-Co analogue, emphasizing the importance of electrostatics in multimetallic electrocatalysts.