Recent Advances in Transition Metal-Catalysed Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Media

Abstract

The excessive combustion of fossil fuels leads to enormous emissions of carbon dioxide which is the major greenhouse gases and significantly contributes to global warming. Since the middle of 20th century, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has risen remarkably. With the development of human society and increase in energy demand, emissions of CO2 are increasing dramatically. To reduce the server environmental impact, scientists have paid considerable effort to prohibiting the increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration. CO2 is an attractive C1 resource because it is non-toxic, nonflammable, and abundant. Transforming of carbon dioxide to useful chemicals, fuels, and materials have attracted increasing attention because it could reduce the dependence on diminishing fossil oil as well as mitigate CO2 increase.