Cascade Catalytic Systems for Converting CO₂ into C₂₊ Products

The excessive emission and continuous accumulation of CO₂ have precipitated serious social and environmental issues. However, CO₂ can also serve as an abundant, inexpensive, and non-toxic renewable C₁ carbon source for synthetic reactions. To achieve carbon neutrality and recycling, it is crucial to convert CO₂ into value-added products through chemical pathways. Multi-carbon (C₂₊) products, compared to C₁ products, offer a broader range of applications and higher economic returns. Despite this, converting CO₂ into C₂₊ products is difficult due to its stability and the high energy required for C-C coupling. Cascade catalytic reactions offer a solution by coordinating active components, promoting intermediate transfers, and facilitating further transformations. This method lowers energy consumption. Recent advancements in cascade catalytic systems have allowed for significant progress in synthesizing C₂₊ products from CO₂. This review highlights the features and advantages of cascade catalysis strategies, explores the synergistic effects among active sites, and examines the mechanisms within these systems. It also outlines future prospects for CO₂ cascade catalytic synthesis, offering a framework for efficient CO₂ utilization and the development of next-generation catalytic systems.