Recent advances and developments in solar-driven photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction into multicarbon (C2+) products

Abstract

Solar-driven catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into value-added C₂₊ chemicals and fuels has attracted significant attention over the past decades, propelled by urgent environmental and energy demands. However, the catalytic reduction of CO₂ continues to face significant challenges due to inherently slow reduction kinetics. This review traces the historical development and current state of photothermal CO₂ reduction, detailing the mechanisms by which CO₂ is transformed into C₂₊ products. A key focus is on catalyst design, emphasizing surface defect engineering, bifunctional active site and co-catalyst coupling to enhance the efficiency and selectivity of solar-driven C₂₊ synthesis. Key reaction pathways to both C₁ and C₂₊ products are discussed, ranging from CO, CH₄ and methanol (CH₃OH) synthesis to the production of C_2–4 products such as C_2–4 hydrocarbons, ethanol, acetic acid, and various carbonates. Notably, the advanced synthesis of C₅₊ hydrocarbons exemplifies the remarkable potential of photothermal technologies to effectively upgrade CO₂-derived products, thereby delivering sustainable liquid fuels. This review provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental mechanisms, recent breakthroughs, and pathway optimizations, culminating in valuable insights for future research and industrial-scale prospect of photothermal CO₂ reduction.