An Outlook on the Applications of Ru-Based Nanocatalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to CO and CH4

CO2 hydrogenation is a highly attractive chemical reaction that can reduce the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide greenhouse gas and replace it with cleaner and more economically valuable fuels and chemicals, such as carbon monoxide and methane. As Ru is a very extensively studied material for this reaction, the following review summarizes and analyzes the progress made in Ru-based nanocatalyst designs to efficiently generate CO and CH4 from CO2, based on particle active site structures, and the chosen support material affecting the metal–support interaction and overall catalyst structure. This includes how the material and mechanistic properties, through characterization techniques, affect the reaction progress including CO2 conversion and the product selectivity. This review also considers future possible research directions and the challenges associated with expanding such technologies into the industry.