Carbon Dioxide Capture and In Situ Hydrogenation Conversion for the Production of C1 Chemicals

ABSTRACT As global climate change intensifies, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere keeps rising, and reducing CO 2 emissions while realizing its resource utilization has become key to achieving the “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” goals. Catalytic conversion of CO 2 into high‐value C1 compounds (such as formic acid, methanol, and methane) is a very promising approach. However, the traditional stepwise “capture‐desorption‐conversion” process, while technically relatively mature, has poor economic feasibility because it requires energy‐intensive desorption and compression steps. To address this issue, researchers have developed the strategy of “CO 2 capture and in situ hydrogenation conversion” which first uses solvents (inorganic alkalis, organic alkaline solvents, and ionic liquids) to capture gaseous CO 2 and then directly hydrogenates the captured CO 2 in the solvent, eliminating the energy‐intensive desorption process and thus reducing the energy consumption and costs of the entire process. This review systematically summarizes the latest research progress in the CO 2 capture‐coupled in situ hydrogenation technology, focuses on discussing the performance of CO 2 hydrogenation in C1 chemical synthesis, and explains their reaction mechanisms; additionally, it takes an in‐depth look at the multiple roles of solvents including the capture and activation of CO 2 , regulation of reaction equilibrium, stabilization of key intermediates, solvation effects, and dispersion and stabilization of catalysts. Finally, this review outlines the future challenges and development directions of this technology such as the development of new catalytic and solvent systems and process integration, aiming to provide valuable references for promoting the practical application of this green and low‐carbon technology.