Ting Wang, Haitao Cui, Yuhao Tian, Congming Li, Lei Li
The hydrogenation of CO2 to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons (such as aromatics, gasoline, jet fuels, and diesel) is one of the important ways to achieve carbon cycling and sustainable fuel production. Spinel catalysts (AB2O4) have attracted increasing attention due to their flexible lattice structure, thermal stability, adjustable oxygen vacancies, and tunable metal-support interaction. However, most existing reviews focus on the static design of catalysts while neglecting the dynamic structural evolution of spinels under actual reaction conditions. This review systematically elaborates on the dynamic formation process of the active interface of spinel catalysts. By integrating in situ characterization with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, this study elucidates the nature of active sites and the reaction mechanism of spinel catalysts during CO2 hydrogenation to liquid hydrocarbons. Based on this, guided by the target product selection behavior, a series of precise construction strategies such as defect engineering, doping effects, interface engineering, and morphological structures were summarized to achieve efficient C─C coupling and liquid hydrocarbon generation. Finally, the current key challenges and future development directions were discussed, providing theoretical guidance for the development of efficient, low-energy-consuming, and industrially applicable spinel catalysts.