Fundamental study of the photocatalytic reduction of CO2: A short review of thermodynamics, kinetics and mechanisms

On the off chance that methods which reduce the global CO2 content are unavailable and inefficient, the increasing CO2 levels will lead to a synchronized rise in temperature across the world. The conversion of this abundant CO2 into hydrocarbons like CH4, CH3OH, CO, HCOOH and hydrogen fuel using different techniques and their use for power could assist with the world’s energy deficiency and solve the CO2 reduction-energy nexus. In this study, photocatalytic CO2 conversion by sunlight will be of primary focus since this bears a resemblance with the regular photosynthesis phenomenon. This work also portrays the writings that have narrated the development of mixtures of two or more carbon ions (C2 ̧) within the photocatalytic reduction of CO2. This paper thus comprises the energy required for CO2 photoreduction, the kinetics mechanisms and thermodynamics requirements. The reaction of CO with water and the hydrogenation of CO2 are covered to understand the gap of Gibb’s free energy between both of the reactions. Likewise, the summary of different metal-based co-catalysts, metal-free co-catalysts and their selectivity towards CO2 reduction by photocatalysis and reduction of CO2 into various hydrocarbons, fuel and materials have also been examined.