Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 26, 2025

CO2 Photoreduction to CH4 Performance Under Concentrating Solar Light
Published on: June 12, 2019
Photons to Formate-A Review on Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Formic Acid
Hanqing Pan1, Michael D Heagy1
1Department of Chemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
Abstract:
Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide due to the burning and depletion of fossil fuels is continuously raising environmental concerns about global warming and the future of our energy supply. Renewable energy, especially better utilization of solar energy, is a promising method for CO2 conversion and chemical storage. Research in the solar fuels area is focused on designing novel catalysts and developing new conversion pathways. In this review, we focus on the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 primarily in its neutral pH species of carbonate to formate. The first two-electron photoproduct of carbon dioxide, a case for formate (or formic acid) is made in this review based on its value as; an important chemical feedstock, a hydrogen storage material, an intermediate to methanol, a high-octane fuel and broad application in fuel cells. This review focuses specifically on the following photocatalysts: semiconductors, phthalocyanines as photosensitizers and membrane devices and metal-organic frameworks.
Related Concept Videos
Carboxylic Acids to Primary Alcohols: Hydride Reduction
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
Acid Halides to Alcohols: LiAlH4 Reduction
The mechanism proceeds in three steps. First, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs as a leaving group, generating an aldehyde. A second nucleophilic attack by the hydride yields an alkoxide ion, which, upon protonation, gives a primary alcohol as...
Loss of Carboxy Group as CO2: Decarboxylation of β-Ketoacids
The Citric Acid Cycle

