Thermochemical CO₂ Reduction to Methanol over Metal-Based Single-Atom Catalysts (SACs): Outlook and Challenges for Developments

The conversion of thermodynamically inert CO₂ into methanol holds immense promise for addressing the pressing environmental and energy challenges of our time. This article offers a succinct overview of the development of single-atom catalysts (SACs) for thermochemical hydrogenation of CO₂ to methanol, encompassing research advancements, advantages, potential hurdles, and other essential aspects related to these catalysts. Our aim of this work is to provide a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the catalytic structures of the single-atom sites and their unique structure-activity relationships in catalyzing the conversion of CO₂ to methanol. We also present insights into the optimal design of SACs, drawing from our own research and those of fellow scientists.