Solar-Driven CO2 Hydrogenation to Renewable Products: A Review of Strategies for Selectivity Tuning

Abstract

The urgent need for sustainable, carbon-neutral energy solutions has accelerated interest in solar-driven CO2 hydrogenation into renewable fuels and value-added chemicals while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This Review highlights recent advances in catalyst design and reactor engineering, alongside operational strategies that enhance solar-driven CO2 conversion efficiency and product selectivity. Catalyst design strategies, such as active site modulation, metal support selection, heterojunction formation, and plasmonic enhancements, are critically discussed. Reactor designs and configurations are methodically reviewed to optimize light management and thermal distribution by using appropriate operating parameters. A distinctive feature of this Review is its focus on selectivity tuning, a critical yet underexplored factor essential for process efficiency that focuses on product selectivity. This Review also systematically discusses mechanistic insights and strategic frameworks for modulating reaction pathways toward target products like CH4, CO, CH3OH, and higher hydrocarbons, with perspectives for upscaling and industrial applications.