Catalysis for the Valorization of Exhaust Carbon: from CO2 to Chemicals, Materials, and Fuels. Technological Use of CO2

The utilization of CO2 is a strategy that can be efficiently combined with a more intelligent use of fossil-C, guaranteeing the availability of the latter for a longer term and avoiding large volumes of CO2. The business as usual (BAU) model based on the use of fossil-C as source of energy for carrying out thermal reactions can contribute to a limited extent to the conversion of CO2and recycling of carbon, also in the long term. Chemicals such as carbonates, carbamates, ureas, and carboxylates will be the real target, reaching a volume on the order of <300 Mt/y of used CO 2with a best wish of volume of avoided CO2 lower than 1 Gt/y. The discovery of efficient systems for solar energy capture, two-photon use for two-electron transfer to CO2 for an easy and fast reduction, efficient charge separation systems, space separation of oxidation and reduction processes on photocatalysts, preferable production of non-water-soluble organics from CO2, and many more needs to be studied.