Rational Design of Novel Catalysts with Atomic Layer Deposition for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is one of the end products of fuel combustion and the major component of the greenhouse gases. The reduction of atmospheric CO 2 not only decreases environmental pollution but also produces value‐added chemicals, solving energy and environment issues simultaneously. One significant challenge is the low conversion efficiency of CO 2 reduction due to the inertness of the CO 2 molecule. The design of the catalyst nanomaterials with the high selectivity, stability, and the activation capabilities for the conversion of CO 2 is needed. Atomic layer deposition (ALD), capable of constructing catalysts with atomic‐level precision in a highly controllable manner, is a promising technique to address the key problems in CO 2 reduction. This review explores the application of ALD in CO 2 reduction, emphasizing the designs of the efficient catalyst nanomaterials fabricated by the ALD technique and their applications in CO 2 reduction and capture. The significance of the ALD catalysts with the fine structures is highlighted to obtain a better understanding of the catalytic performance–aimed benefits as well as an outlook on the ALD‐designed catalysts for the reduction of CO 2 .