New review maps routes from captured carbon dioxide to useful chemicals and fuels
Researchers examine how carbon capture can connect with electricity, sunlight and heat to convert CO2, and what still limits industrial deployment
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Overview of CO2 capture and utilization
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Industrial activity has increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, contributing to global warming and highlighting the need for effective mitigation strategies. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) offers a way to convert CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels, potentially reducing dependence on fossil resources and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting a circular economy. Recent years have seen growing research interest and rapid advances in CCU materials and processes.
Published online in Science China Chemistry on October 8, 2026, “CO2 capture and utilization” brings together contributions from 15 research groups across China to examine how captured carbon dioxide can be converted into useful chemicals and fuels. The corresponding authors are Tong-Bu Lu, Jin-Ping Li, Zhong-Yi Jiang, Bao-Yu Xia, Bin Zhang, Xiao-Fu Sun, Pei-Qin Liao, Xu-Bing Li, Jian-Dong Pang, Zhuo Jiang, Xing-Chen Jiao, Di-Chang Zhong, Ji-Jie Wang, Wei Wei, Ze-Long Li and Bin Zhao. Drawing on 983 references, the review surveys materials, processes and reaction mechanisms in CCU, alongside barriers to industrial deployment.
The review compares three main capture approaches: liquid absorption, solid adsorption and membrane separation. Liquid absorption has extensive industrial experience, but releasing captured CO2 can require substantial energy, and absorbents can degrade over time. Solid adsorbents and membranes offer alternatives, with challenges in durability, moisture tolerance and separation performance. The authors emphasize that capture materials should be designed around downstream requirements, while conversion systems must accommodate the available CO2 supply. For conversion, the review examines reactions driven by electricity, sunlight and heat. Electrocatalysis can produce carbon monoxide, formate, ethylene and ethanol, with emerging routes to urea and amino acids. Key goals include product selectivity, efficiency and sustained operation. Photocatalysis requires better light absorption and charge utilization, alongside improved stability and reduced reliance on sacrificial reagents consumed during reactions. Heat-driven catalysis provides routes to methanol, higher alcohols, hydrocarbons and cyclic carbonates, as well as synthesis gas through reactions between CO2 and methane. High-temperature catalysts must resist carbon deposits and metal particle growth that reduce activity.
Bridging laboratory research and industrial operation will require durable catalysts, electrodes and membranes, effective reactant transport and lower energy demand. The authors highlight opportunities to integrate capture with conversion, combine catalytic steps and use renewable energy or waste heat. High-throughput screening and machine learning could accelerate materials discovery, while measurements during operation can reveal catalyst changes and reaction pathways. By connecting advances in materials with reactor design and process integration, the review provides a reference for researchers and industry working toward more efficient and reliable CCU technologies.
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