Carbon catalysts for CO ₂ conversion: From carbon emissions to zero-carbon solutions

For millions of years, Earth’s carbon cycle remained stable, but anthropogenic emissions drive severe air pollution and climate change. Addressing this crisis necessitates innovative decarbonization strategies, where carbon catalysts emerge as an innovative solution, replacing critical minerals for zero-carbon emissions. These catalysts can be synthesized from carbon dioxide and used to convert feedstocks into valuable chemicals and fuels, reducing energy demands and emissions while promoting clean energy and green chemical production. In this review, we explore the catalytic mechanisms at the atomic scale by examining the origins and design principles of carbon catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion. A framework is proposed for the rational design of the active sites for carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen couplings, facilitating the production of high-value multicarbon (C 2+ ) hydrocarbons and nitrogen-containing chemicals. The potential of these catalysts to transform the energy and chemical industries is highlighted together with key challenges and further directions in carbon science toward sustainable solutions.