Integrated CO2 capture and conversion (ICCC): Advancing dual-function materials with techno-economic perspectives for sustainable fuels

The substantial increase in CO 2 emissions from various point sources has become a major contributor to the greenhouse effect, intensifying global warming and exacerbating climate instability. Addressing the rising levels of atmospheric CO 2 requires innovative and sustainable mitigation strategies. Integrated carbon capture and conversion (ICCC) is an emerging approach that enables the simultaneous capture and conversion of CO 2 into intermediates, such as methane (CH 4 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and syngas, via methanation, reverse water-gas shift (RWGS), and dry reforming of methane (DRM). These intermediates can be further upgraded into value-added liquid fuels via methanol synthesis or the Fischer-Tropsch route, directly supporting the production of renewable methanol and SAF. ICCC could potentially reduce the need for CO 2 compression and transport, may lower the energy-intensive requirements for sorbent regeneration, and reduce the reactor systems typically associated with conventional processes. This review critically examines advancements in ICCC technologies, focusing on the design and optimization of dual-function materials (DFMs) and the synergistic interactions between adsorbents and catalysts. It explores optimized reaction pathways, material stability, and the techno-economic feasibility of ICCC systems, while addressing the effects of key operational parameters. Challenges such as thermal sintering, catalyst deactivation, and impurities (e.g., O 2 , H 2 O, sulfur species) are addressed. Practical implementation issues, including gas switching between oxidising and reducing atmospheres, purge losses, H 2 utilization, product dilution and cyclic reactor heat management, are also discussed as critical determinants of scale-up feasibility. By integrating insights from materials science, process engineering, and economic analysis, this study identifies the material and process conditions under which ICCC may offer advantages over separated capture and conversion routes. The review also highlights that practical deployment remains conditional on long-term DFM stability, realistic gas switching, impurity tolerance, low-carbon H 2 availability, heat integration, and reactor-scale validation.