Frontiers in Catalytic Technologies for Carbon Neutrality: Advances and Prospects

Abstract

The global urgency to achieve carbon neutrality and peak carbon emissions (“dual carbon” strategy) has spurred remarkable progress in catalytic technologies, such as photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photothermal catalysis, aiming at addressing environmental and energy challenges. This review systematically examines the latest breakthroughs in catalyst design [e.g., metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), black semiconductors, and p-block metal chalcogenides] and mechanism innovations (e.g., electron spin control, defect engineering, and heterojunction construction), which enhance solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency and product selectivity. Advanced characterization techniques, including operando spectroscopy and machine learning, are emphasized for unraveling dynamic catalytic processes and guiding material optimization. Applications range from CO₂ reduction to high-value fuels (e.g., CO, CH₄, C₂₊ products), green hydrogen production, and pollutant degradation, showcasing the transformative potential of these technologies in energy storage, environmental remediation, and sustainable synthesis. Challenges related to scalability, stability, and economic feasibility are critically analyzed, providing insights into future research directions for industrial implementation.

Keywords

CO₂ reduction / Photocatalysis / Electrocatalysis / Photothermal catalysis / Catalyst design / Chemical Sciences / Inorganic Chemistry / Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry / Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Jilin University, The Editorial Department of Chemical Research in Chinese Universities and Springer-Verlag GmbH