Research Progress and Prospects of ZrO ₂ ‐Based Catalysts in CO ₂ Hydrogenation

ABSTRACT The escalating atmospheric CO 2 levels necessitate efficient catalytic technologies for its conversion into value‐added chemicals. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in ZrO 2 ‐based catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation, emphasizing their multifunctional roles beyond conventional supports. Owing to its tunable crystalline phases, abundant oxygen vacancies, and synergistic metal‐support interactions, ZrO 2 significantly enhances catalytic performance in producing methane, methanol, and other products. Key design strategies, such as phase engineering, morphology control, and the construction of inverse or composite structures, are discussed in relation to their influence on CO 2 adsorption, intermediate stabilization, and reaction pathway regulation. Mechanistic insights reveal that ZrO 2 facilitates H 2 dissociation, promotes hydrogen spillover, and stabilizes active metal species, thereby optimizing product selectivity and catalyst durability. Furthermore, tandem catalytic systems integrating ZrO 2 with zeolites demonstrate exceptional potential in steering C–C coupling while suppressing over‐hydrogenation. This review not only elucidates structure‐activity relationships and kinetic behaviors but also outlines future research directions, including in situ characterization and scalable catalyst design, thereby providing critical guidance for the development of high‐performance CO 2 hydrogenation catalysts and advancing carbon‐neutral fuel and chemical production.