Authors
Freeman Bwalya Kabwe, Qian Jiang, Chenguang Wang
Published in
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany). Pages e71373. Jul 12, 2026. Epub Jul 12, 2026.
Abstract
Converting CO2 into higher alcohols is a promising strategy for producing valuable chemicals and fuels while improving carbon utilization. However, achieving selective formation of higher alcohols remains challenging because CO2 hydrogenation is thermodynamically limited and competes with methanation, the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS), and methanol synthesis. Recent studies suggest that higher-alcohol synthesis is governed not by isolated active sites, but by cooperative interfacial ensembles with complementary catalytic functions. This review examines recent progress in identifying the active sites responsible for higher-alcohol formation in Cu─, Co─, and Mo-based catalysts. Particular attention is given to how interfacial structures, promoter-induced electronic effects, and metal-support interactions influence key steps, including CO2/CO activation, CHx formation, CO insertion, and C─C coupling. Cu-based catalysts often rely on Cu─ZnO─FexCᵧ interfaces, while Co-based catalysts are generally linked to Co0/Coδ+ or Co2C/Co0 interfacial motifs, and Mo-based catalysts benefit from adjustable oxidation states and coordination environments that stabilize oxygenate intermediates and promote chain growth. Finally, this review highlights common mechanistic principles, unresolved challenges, and interfacial active-site engineering as a useful strategy for designing more selective catalysts.
PMID:
42437442
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Jul 2026.
Read full publication at:
Please sign in
to see all details.
Advertisement
Stats
- Recommendations n/a n/a positive of 0 vote(s)
- Views 12
- Comments 0