Research Progress on Different Catalytic Techniques for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction

Elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a typical greenhouse gas, are a major contributor to the global greenhouse effect. With China’s goals of “achieving carbon peak by 2030” and “achieving carbon neutrality by 2060”, how to efficiently convert CO₂ has become an important research direction for Chinese researchers. Carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is a common means of converting CO₂ into carbon-based fuels and high-value-added products using photocatalytic, thermal catalytic, electrocatalytic, and biocatalytic technologies. However, the above technologies still suffer from low CO₂ conversion efficiency, low target product selectivity, and poor reaction stability. This paper is based on the reaction principles of different catalytic techniques, combined with the characteristics of the catalysts such as material or loading method. Recent research progress in the formation of products such as methanol, methane, and ethylene from carbon dioxide reduction is reviewed. The aim is to provide further guidance for carbon dioxide reduction and utilization.