Recent advances in reducible metal oxide catalysts for C1 reactions

Abstract

Chemical conversion of one-carbon (C1) molecules to value-added chemicals and energy fuels has attracted increasing research interest in recent years driven by concerns on the depletion of fossil fuel resources and amplifying environmental issues caused by anthropogenic activities. In this mini-review, we introduce important C1 reactions in CO, CO₂, and CH₄ conversions via different approaches, including thermally, electrochemically, and photochemically driven processes, and the catalysis mechanism of reducible metal oxide (RMO) materials for use in these reactions. We mainly summarize the latest research advances in RMO catalyst materials and their common functionality in these C1 reactions, discuss the current research status and challenges, and provide a perspective on future research directions and opportunities in this field.