  Catalytic conversion of CO$_2$ into useful chemicals is an attractive
alternative to expensive physical carbon sequestration methods. However, this
approach is challenging because current chemical conversion methods employ high
temperatures or pressures, thereby increasing cost and potentially leading to
net carbon positive processes. In this paper, we examine the interface
properties of ZnO(11$\bar{2}$0)/PbTiO$_3$ and its surface interaction with
CO$_2$, CO and O. We show that the stoichiometry of the stable interface is
dependent on the substrate polarization and can be controlled by changing the
growth conditions. Using a model reaction, we demonstrate that a dynamically
tuned catalysis schemes could enable significantly lower-energy approaches for
CO$_2$ conversion.
