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This work reports the development of metal nanoparticles dispersed over Schiff base functionalized SBA-15. Tuning the hybridization favours optimum CO2 capture and charge polarization at metal nanoparticles enhances the conversion of CO2 to formic acid.

The discovery of new materials for efficient transformation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into desired fuel can revolutionize large-scale renewable energy storage and mitigate environmental damage due to carbon emissions. In this work, we discovered an operando generated stable Ni–In kinetic phase that selectively converts CO2 to methanol (CTM) at low pressure compared to the state-of-the-art materials. The catalytic nature of a well-known methanation catalyst, nickel, has been tuned with the introduction of inactive indium, which enhances the CTM process. The remarkable change in the mechanistic pathways toward methanol production has been mapped by operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy analysis, corroborated by first-principles calculations. The ordered arrangement and pronounced electronegativity difference between metals are attributed to the complete shift in mechanism. The approach and findings of this work provide a unique advance toward the next-generation catalyst discovery for going beyond the state-of-the-art in CO2 reduction technologies.

Increased level of CO2 in the atmosphere is identified as a threat to life on the planet earth. Since hydrogenation of CO2 back to fuel is identified as a major solution for both decreasing the emission and meeting the energy demands, the energy-efficient capture of CO2 is recognized as the inevitably significant step. Small and large scale direct air capture of CO2 (DAC) is a viable solution to address CO2 discharge from industrial, automobile, and household activities (both point and mobile sources). The real challenge of DAC is to pick 400 molecules of CO2 for capture from a million gas molecules in the atmosphere. Thus, in this report, we focus on reviewing the literature dealing with the chemical interaction between sorbate (CO2) and sorbent which is highly specific. Materials such as metal hydroxides and amine solutions are well discussed in other celebrated reviews and perspectives. Here we focus on inert porous silica immobilized amine material emphasizing particularly on their advantages compared to other sorbent materials. Furthermore, amines functionalized novel silica materials like bimodal porous silica, hierarchical silica are discussed highlighting the CO2 capture mechanism, desorption, and sorbent-regeneration. Both O2 and CO2-induced degradation pathways along with measures to retard sorbent degradations are presented. Finally, a brief overview of sustainability and future potential of amine-silica composite material is presented for more insights.

Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) composed of transition metals and post-transition metals function as superior heterogeneous catalysts in comparison to their monometallic and bimetallic alloy counterparts. Rendering IMCs in their nanomaterial iterations further enhances their efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate the role of PdIn as well-dispersed intermetallic nanoparticles (IMNPs) for the semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene selectively to styrene at ambient conditions. Higher selectivity of PdIn was explained with the help DOS calculations. We have explored the role of a few well-known silica-based supports such as SBA-15 and MCM-41, providing insight into how they affect catalysis. As an additional support we have explored previously reported JNC-1, a mesoporous carbon material obtained via a templated strategy using SBA-15. PdIn supported on SBA-15 and JNC-1 displayed the best dispersion, while also exhibiting the most catalytic activity due to the unique nature of the porous structure.

Catalytic conversion of CO2 to chemicals and fuels is a “two birds, one stone” approach toward solving the climate change problem and energy demand–supply deficit in the modern world. Recent advances in mechanistic insights and design of suitable catalysts for direct thermocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to C1 products are thoroughly discussed in this Review. The role of catalyst composition and process conditions in determining the selective pathways to various products like carbon monoxide, methanol, methane, and dimethyl ether has been overviewed in light of thermodynamic and kinetic considerations. After extensive elaboration of the main motivation of the reaction pathways, catalytic roles, and reaction thermodynamics, we summarize the most important macroscopic aspects of CO2 hydrogenation technology development, which include reactor innovations, industrial status of the technology, life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis. Finally, a critical perspective on the future challenges and opportu...