Perspectives on the status and future of sustainable CO2 conversion processes and their implementation

Abstract

The rapid rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations continues to threaten global climate stability, underscoring the urgent need for scalable, economically viable, and sustainable CO₂ mitigation strategies. Among emerging solutions, CO₂ conversion technologies offer a transformative pathway by enabling the utilization of CO₂ as a renewable carbon feedstock for the production of fuels, chemicals, and materials, thereby promoting a circular carbon economy. The review begins by exploring foundational CO₂ capture and pre-treatment methods, emphasizing advanced materials, as well as integration strategies that directly couple capture with conversion processes as a gateway to improved CO₂ conversion. Recent advancements in CO₂ conversion technologies, spanning thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, and biological domains are then covered. The integration of CO₂ conversion systems with renewable energy and industrial infrastructures is explored through case studies and commercialization efforts, highlighting opportunities for sector-wide decarbonization. Furthermore, the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in predictive modeling, catalyst design, and process optimization, as well as the techno-economic analyses that frame the practical deployment of these technologies is also presented. Persistent challenges including energy efficiency, long-term stability, product selectivity, and regulatory constraints are critically analyzed, and emerging solutions are proposed. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including the development of next-generation technologies and strategies to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and public-private partnerships. By synthesizing cutting-edge advancements and identifying key barriers and opportunities, this work provides a roadmap for accelerating the global deployment of CO₂ conversion technologies toward a sustainable and decarbonized future.