A review on assessing innovative materials and technologies for carbon dioxide conversion to valuables

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a ubiquitous molecule that is essential for the existence of life on Earth. However, the ever-increasing anthropogenic CO₂ emissions in the environment have resulted in global warming-via-climate change. CO₂ is an inexpensive substrate that can be utilized to produce fuels and value-added chemicals through numerous chemical and biological processes to boost the circular economy with a negative carbon cycle in the future. Conventional technologies practiced capturing CO₂ suffer from several limitations, such as high capital costs, high energy input, complicated designs, CO₂ leakage, and kinetic limitations in various steps. To offset these limitations and negative impacts, this study assessed the emerging CO₂ capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies in value-added products that can boost the nation's economy and lower energy consumption while preserving global environmental quality. Various emerging CCS technologies, such as heterogeneous catalytic conversion, plasma technology, photocatalytic conversion, and other technologies (electrochemical or electrocatalysis, photoelectrochemical, thermo-catalysis, and biochemical and radiolysis), were discussed for efficient utilization and transformation of CO₂. In addition, it also explored how the various transformation technologies affected the characteristics, economic value, and quality of value-added chemicals/fuels. This review also covered environmental and economic implications from scientific perspectives, and lastly, the future outlook and associated challenges were discussed.