Recent advances in CO₂ hydrogenation to higher alcohols

CO₂ hydrogenation to higher alcohols (C₂₊OH) is an effective way to realize carbon recycling, which can not only reduce the CO₂ amounts in atmosphere and mitigate the greenhouse effect, but also provides a new route to synthesize important chemicals. However, this process is a challenge because the inert CO₂ molecule is difficult to be activated and undergo C–C coupling. The key to achieve selective conversion of CO₂ to C₂₊OH is to design high-performance catalytic systems and unravel the reaction mechanism. In this review, we report several typical CO₂ hydrogenation-to-C₂₊OH catalyst materials, including noble-metal catalysts, Cu-based catalysts, Co-based catalysts and Mo-based catalysts, and evaluate the effects of various promoters on the catalytic performance and reaction mechanism. It will provide not only fundamental insights into the CO₂ hydrogenation-to-C₂₊OH reaction mechanism, but also guidance for the development of related high-performance catalysts.