Tuning Selectivity of CO₂ Hydrogenation Reactions at the Metal/Oxide Interface

The chemical transformation of CO₂ not only mitigates the anthropogenic CO₂ emission into the Earth's atmosphere but also produces carbon compounds that can be used as precursors for the production of chemicals and fuels. The activation and conversion of CO₂ can be achieved on multifunctional catalytic sites available at the metal/oxide interface by taking advantage of the synergy between the metal nanoparticles and oxide support. Herein, we look at the recent progress in mechanistic studies of CO₂ hydrogenation to C1 (CO, CH₃OH, and CH₄) compounds on metal/oxide catalysts. On this basis, we are able to provide a better understanding of the complex reaction network, grasp the capability of manipulating structure and combination of metal and oxide at the interface in tuning selectivity, and identify the key descriptors to control the activity and, in particular, the selectivity of catalysts. Finally, we also discuss challenges and future research opportunities for tuning the selective conversion of CO₂ on metal/oxide catalysts.