Recycling of carbon dioxide to renewable fuels by photocatalysis: Prospects and challenges

Energy crisis and threats of global warming has accelerated the thrust for new renewable energy resources. Recycling greenhouse gases seems eminently potential to produce sustainable fuels as well as to reduce carbon emission. Various possibilities for implementing low carbon economy drive by practicing phototechnology are reviewed in this paper. In particular, different challenges and applicable solutions for efficient and economical conversion of greenhouse gases to renewable fuels are discussed. The roles of key parameters such as types of reductant, reduction potential, pH of mixture, metal-loaded and supported catalyst on hydrocarbon yield and selectivity are also investigated. Various types of photoreactors and different challenges in the design are also elaborated. It was obvious that modification of semiconductor photocatalyst, optimum operating parameters and suitable photoreactor design are pertinent for efficient CO₂ reduction to sustainable hydrocarbon fuels. In view of the current scenario, there are ample opportunities for producing renewable fuels and establishing a sustainable carbon neutral cycle using phototechnology.