Immobilized Molecular Catalysts for CO2 Photoreduction

Catalytic carbon dioxide transformation to low valence carbon molecules such as carbon monoxide, formic acid, methanol and methane is a sustainable way to produce fuels and chemicals. Molecular catalysts can be designed to selectively transform CO2 at mild conditions, but a solvent medium is required. Instead, the molecular catalysts can be immobilized on solid supports to facilitate the continuous flow procedure and the separation of the products to recycle the catalytic systems for a more sustainable process. Photosensitive supports may also favor the light-absorbing steps and electron transfer processes. In this article, the recent results obtained in the photocatalytic CO2 reduction using catalytic systems formed by molecular compounds anchored on solids are reviewed.