Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1): 3-17.doi: 10.1007/s40242-026-5198-x

• Review Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Zeolites in CO2 Hydrogenation: Multifunctional Roles and Advanced Modifications

YANG Jiaqi1,2, CHEN Huanhao3, PAN Run1,2, FAN Xiaolei1,4, OU Xiaoxia1,2, Colin SNAPE5, HE Jun1,2   

  1. 1. Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, P. R. China;
    2. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, P. R. China;
    3. State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210000, P. R. China;
    4. Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom;
    5. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
  • Received:2025-09-10 Online:2026-02-01 Published:2026-01-28
  • Contact: FAN Xiaolei,E-mail:xiaolei.fan@manchester.ac.uk;OU Xiaoxia,E-mail:xiaoxia.ou@nottingham.edu.cn E-mail:xiaolei.fan@manchester.ac.uk;xiaoxia.ou@nottingham.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Ningbo Key Technology Breakthrough Projects Under Yongjiang Science and Innovation 2035 Scheme, China (Nos. 2024Z237, 2024Z251, 2025Z110), the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (No. LQ23B060005), the Project of the State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, China (No. SKL-MCE-23B11), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22278204), and the Young Talent Sub-project of Ningbo Yongjiang Talent Introduction Programme, China (No. 2023A-142-G).

Abstract: Zeolites, as one of the most versatile classes of catalysts, exhibit remarkable potential in CO2 chemistry and play a pivotal role in advancing the circular carbon economy. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, zeolites serve as excellent platforms for catalytic CO2 valorisation, particularly in hydrogenation reactions. They act as multifunctional catalyst supports, enabling the anchoring of metal active sites through diverse strategies, such as nanoparticle encapsulation and single-atom stabilisation, while also providing additional functionalities for tandem catalytic processes. Consequently, metal-zeolite catalyst systems effectively promote the conversion of CO2 into both C1 products (e.g., CO, CH4, and methanol) and high-value multi-carbon products (e.g., oxygenates, olefins, and aromatics). Recent research efforts have therefore focused on enhancing these catalytic systems by tailoring zeolite characteristics, including pore structure and acidity. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of zeolite-based CO2 hydrogenation, highlighting the multiple roles of zeolites within metal-zeolite catalysts, the modification strategies employed, and the mechanistic insights underlying improved performance. We further discuss structure-performance correlations, assess industrial prospects, and outline future research directions. This work provides a timely overview of state-of-the-art metal-zeolite catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation, serving as a valuable reference for the continued development of CO2 valorisation technologies.

Key words: Zeolite, CO2 hydrogenation, Multifunctional catalyst, Tandem catalysis, Modification