A Review on Recent Advances for Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol Using Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) and Non-MOF Catalysts: Challenges and Future Prospects

Transformation of carbon dioxide into various chemicals including methanol is a top priority field of study owing to the association of CO2 with global warming. There is a need for renewable and sustainable energy sources and replacement of fossil fuel with a fuel having comparable energy density. Electrochemical reduction is a unique approach to convert CO2 to methanol by employing alternative energy sources where electrocatalyst plays a crucial role. A lot of effort is made to understand and increase the efficiency of electrocatalysts. Unadulterated metals, metal oxide, composite materials, and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are employed for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to methanol. However, MOFs engrossed the enormous consideration due to simplicity, higher surface area, and unique structural features. In recent years, MOFs and their derivatives find significant applications in the electrocatalysis of oxygen and hydrogen evolution, oxygen, hydrogen, and CO2 reduction. The primary emphasis of the current review is the electroreduction of CO2 to methanol by coalescing the vantages of non-MOFs, MOFs, and their composite materials. The challenges to achieve electrocatalyst with higher efficiency and better selectivity for the electroreduction of CO2 are analyzed. Several research directions are proposed for MOF electrocatalysts to enhance the catalytic efficiency in methanol production. This review substantiates the efforts to develop new MOFs with superior efficiency, chemical stability, and conductivity.