Zeolite-based catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation: insights into mechanisms and strategies for selective C2+ hydrocarbon production

Abstract

The hydrogenation of CO₂ to C₂₊ hydrocarbons is a promising route for carbon utilization, offering sustainable pathways to valuable chemicals such as gasoline, olefins, and aromatics. Zeolite-based tandem catalysts play an important role in facilitating CO₂ activation, C–C coupling, and product selectivity modulation through their tunable acidities and unique pore structures. This review provides an in-depth analysis of two reaction pathways: the modified Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and the methanol-mediated route. It then summarizes recent advances in catalyst development and reaction condition optimization, focusing on strategies to enhance product selectivity and catalyst stability. The discussion includes improvements in catalyst design, mechanistic insights into key reaction steps and intermediates, and optimization of operating conditions. Finally, we highlight the challenges and opportunities in analysis of intermediate species, catalyst design and synthesis, structural and mechanistic understanding, and zeolite deactivation mechanism and stability enhancement; this review aims to serve as a reference for future research efforts, contributing to a fundamental understanding and the practical application of CO₂ valorization.