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Updated: Aug 29, 2025

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Challenges and Prospects in the Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Formaldehyde
Siqi Zhao1, Hong-Qing Liang2, Xin-Ming Hu3
1Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) CO2 Research Center, Department of Chemistry/Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
Abstract:
Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a crucial C1 building block for daily-life commodities in a wide range of industrial processes. Industrial production of HCHO today is based on energy- and cost-intensive gas-phase catalytic oxidation of methanol, which calls for exploring other and more sustainable ways of carrying out this process. Utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) as precursor presents a promising strategy to simultaneously mitigate the carbon footprint and alleviate environmental issues. This Minireview summarizes recent progress in CO2 -to-HCHO conversion using hydrogenation, hydroboration/hydrosilylation as well as photochemical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, and enzymatic approaches. The active species, reaction intermediates, and mechanistic pathways are discussed to deepen the understanding of HCHO selectivity issues. Finally, shortcomings and prospects of the various strategies for sustainable reduction of CO2 to HCHO are discussed.
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