Transformation of CO2 by using nanoscale metal catalysts: cases studies on the formation of formic acid and dimethylether

The valorization of CO2 has gained increasing interest in the scientific and industrial communities during the last decades with intensive research devoted to CO2 capture, sequestration and utilization. This is because the greenhouse gas emission has become a serious concern to face the global climate change and that efficient solutions are required to reduce the carbon footprint. Up to now the chemical transformation of CO2 into fuels and target molecules has been mainly investigated by using molecular catalysts. However, the ability of heterogeneous catalysts or nanomaterials for this catalysis has been recently explored and promising results achieved in the production of formic acid (FA) and dimethylether (DME) from CO2 with nanoscale metal catalysts. Relevant examples will illustrate the high potential of this class of catalysts that could offer new solutions for the selective transformation of CO2 toward fuels and high added value chemicals in the future.