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

[Display omitted] • ZIFs-based materials are efficient for ECR due to their compositional and structural merits. • Ligand adjusting and physical regulating are optimistic for enhanced ECR activity. • ZIFs-derived single-atom-site materials exhibit the most promising activity among ZIF-derivates. • Perspective of the developments and applications of ZIFs in ECR have been proposed. 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 CO 2 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 ZIFs-derivatives 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]