Catalytic carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methane: A review of recent studies

Recently, various efforts have been put forward on the development of technologies for the synthesis of methane from CO2 and H2, since it can offer a solution for renewable H2 storage and transportation. In parallel, this reaction is considered to be a critical step in reclaiming oxygen within a closed cycle. Over the years, extensive fundamental research works on CO2 methanation have been investigated and reported in the literatures. In this updated review, we present a comprehensive overview of recent publications during the last 3 years. Various aspects on this reaction system are described in detail, such as thermodynamic considerations, catalyst innovations, the influence of reaction conditions, overall catalytic performance, and reaction mechanism. Finally, the future development of CO2 methanation is discussed.