A new transportation energy review: methanol catalytic synthesis from CO₂ green hydrogenation

The growing emphasis on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions has highlighted challenges associated with transitioning to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The increasing utilization of renewable but intermittent energy sources, such as solar and wind, and the need to manage supply and demand has driven the development of energy storage fuels such as methanol, which is clean, versatile, and abundant. As a result, the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methanol using various catalysts is gaining momentum. This review analyzes and summarizes the performance of Cu-based, In-based, noble metal-, and solid solution-based catalysts in terms of preparation, reaction mechanism, CO₂ conversion efficiency, and methanol selectivity. The optimal reaction conditions for these catalysts typically fall within 200–300 °C and 1.5–5 MPa. The Cu-based are the most widely studied and exhibit a median CO₂ conversion efficiency and methanol selectivity of 13.6 % and 69.2 % respectively, whereas In- and solid solution-based catalysts exhibit similar performances but superior stabilities. The noble metal-based catalysts exhibit different CO₂ conversion efficiencies (0.6 %–66 %) and methanol selectivities (11 %–100 %) with limited data on stability. This comprehensive analysis provides a theoretical foundation and reference assisting researchers selecting the catalysts for the production of methanol using CO₂ hydrogenation.