The key role of catalyst structure adjustment and optimization in the reverse water-gas shift reaction

The reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction is a key step in converting large amounts of carbon dioxide into chemical or hydrocarbon fuels. It has received extensive attention as a renewable system for nontraditional fuel synthesis. Researchers have attempted to improve the activity, CO selectivity, and thermal stability of its catalysts. In recent years, many active metals and support systems have been introduced into the study of RWGS reactions, significantly deepening our understanding of the structure–activity relationships between catalyst composition/structure and performance. The existing results systematically explain the regulatory mechanisms of key factors, such as strong metal–support interactions (SMSI), oxygen vacancies, metal nanoparticle size, and bimetallic structure, on the reactivity and mechanism. Nevertheless, the microscopic mechanism of the RWGS reaction and the nature of the active sites remain controversial. This paper focuses on the progress of reaction path research and performance optimization of supported metal catalysts in the RWGS. It proposes future directions for performance improvement based on the current challenges. • Review on Catalyst Design for RWGS Reaction • Analyzed the reasons for performance differences of supported catalysts. • Investigated the relationship between catalyst structure and reaction mechanism. • Analyzed the key factors influencing the reverse water - gas reaction pathway. • Prospected the research directions and design strategy for highly active catalysts.