Catalyst design for selective CO₂ hydrogenation to light olefins: engineering active phases and interfaces to steer intermediate evolution.

Authors

Li Lyu, Xingyu Zheng, Cong Li, Xiaolei Fan, Xiaoxia Ou

Published in

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England). Oct 06, 2026. Epub Oct 06, 2026.

Abstract

Catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ to light olefins (C=2-C=4) offers a promising route for converting CO₂ into high-value platform chemicals while reducing reliance on fossil feedstocks. Its practical implementation, however, is hindered by the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of CO₂, competing reaction pathways, and the challenge of promoting selective C-C coupling while suppressing CO, CH₄ and heavier hydrocarbons. This review critically examines catalyst design through the regulation of key reaction intermediates in two principal pathways, i.e., Fe-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and methanol-mediated tandem conversion. For Fe-based catalysts, promoter engineering, support effects, oxygen vacancies, and metal-support interactions are discussed in relation to FeO_x/FeC_x phase evolution, CO₂ activation, surface C/H balance, and chain growth. For oxide-zeolite tandem catalysts, active-site matching, acidity control, interfacial proximity, and diffusion are examined in terms of oxygenate conversion, hydrocarbon-pool chemistry, olefin selectivity, and catalyst stability. Across both pathways, intermediate regulation, multiphase interface engineering, hydrogen management, and deactivation control emerge as central principles for developing efficient, selective, and durable catalysts for CO₂ valorisation to light olefins.

PMID:
42834843
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Oct 2026.

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