Atomic‐Level Tuning Strategies in Designing Active Catalysts for Heterogeneous CO <sub>2</sub> Conversion into Chemical Feedstock
Syed Asim Ali, Iqra Sadiq, Marta Estrader, Tokeer Ahmad
Abstract
Abstract Nanocatalysts exhibit significantly improved performance when reduced to single atoms or small clusters, enhancing active site exposure for CO 2 reduction. By achieving this level of atomic engineering, the exposed active centers can be maximized for accelerated surface adsorption during CO 2 reduction. Several engineering approaches, such as atomic layer coating, tailoring of intrinsic and extrinsic defects, surface‐site engineering, oxygen vacancies, etc., can effectively modify the active centres for enhanced CO 2 adsorption and activation. These state‐of‐the‐art methodologies ensure the precise control and regulation of advanced materials at the atomic scale to accelerate the efficiency and selectivity for converting CO 2 into value‐added chemical feedstock, addressing both energy and environmental challenges. As CO 2 sequestration is the nexus of almost every sustainable energy resource; therefore, the recent advancements in atomic‐level engineering strategies for CO 2 reduction applications are critically surveyed. Herein, we aim to articulate the developments in the existent approaches in atomic‐level tuning and surface‐site modification techniques alongside challenges and future directions for large‐scale applicability of CO 2 reduction.