CO2 hydrogenation to methanol by organometallic catalysts

CO2 conversion is one of the essential technologies for the reduction of CO2 emissions. As methanol is extensively used as a raw material for plastics and fuels, methanol production from CO2 is a promising method to reduce CO2 emissions. However, heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol suffer from low conversion and selectivity owing to equilibrium limitations at high temperature. In contrast, organometallic catalysts can perform at relatively low temperatures compared with heterogeneous catalysts. Additionally, an appropriate ligand design can improve the activity and selectivity of organometallic catalysts. In CO2 hydrogenation to methanol using organometallic catalysts, although extensive research on indirect synthesis methods has been performed, signif-icant progress has recently been made in direct synthesis. This perspective provides an overview of the current state of indirect and direct methods for methanol production from CO2 via the design of organometallic catalysts and reaction processes.

Automated summary

CO2 conversion is a vital technology for reducing emissions, and methanol production from CO2 using organometallic catalysts shows promise due to its advantages compared to heterogeneous catalysts. This article provides an overview of the current state of both indirect and direct methods for methanol production from CO2, focusing on the design of organometallic catalysts and reaction processes.