Advancements and Perspective of Environmentally Sustainable Technologies for Electrochemical Selective Conversion of CO 2 to Methanol

The electrochemical and catalytic reduction of CO2 into valuable chemicals like methanol offers a promising strategy for CO2 utilization while also producing sustainable fuels and feedstocks. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is the most promising technique for the future, as it has an impact on environmental issues and the advancement of renewable energy. This review summarizes recent advances in both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation and electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to methanol. The fundamentals of both CO2tomethanol pathways are discussed, covering proposed mechanisms, catalyst materials (Cu, Pd alloys, nanostructured metals/metal oxides), reactor configurations, and process conditions. Key catalyst materials are analyzed, including copper, palladium alloys, nanostructured metals/metal oxides, and metalorganic frameworks tailored for selective 6-electron CO2 reduction. Critical performance factors and optimization strategies for these catalysts and reactor setups are analyzed in depth, including electrolyte choice, applied potential, cathode design, and flow cell configuration. Finally, technoeconomic assessments of integrated CO2-to-methanol processes provide vital insight into scale-up challenges and future research priorities across materials design, reactor engineering, and process intensification. This review offers a comprehensive reference on latest developments in catalytic and electrocatalytic CO2 conversion to methanol.