Chapter 20: CO₂ Hydrogenation With a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor

Hydrogenation of CO₂ is a promising way for CO₂ utilization due to the possibility of producing a wide range of chemicals including CO, CH₄, value-added hydrocarbons and oxygenates. Plasma technology, especially plasma-catalysis, has great potential for the valorisation of CO₂ and has attracted much attention in recent years. The technological development in renewable energy and clean hydrogen production facilitates the research in plasma-assisted hydrogenation of CO₂ as a green approach for chemical production and energy storage. As a result, there is growing interest in this field and a rapid increase in related research can be expected in the near future. Therefore, it is worthwhile to discuss the development of this technology along with current research gaps. This chapter presents a comprehensive review of research progress in plasma and plasma-catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation with a focus on DBD plasma reactors and different catalysts. The status and potential challenges of CO₂ methanation as well as the production of methanol and CO are covered. Both the plasma-induced gas phase and surface reaction pathways have been discussed to provide insights of the reaction mechanism. Finally, recommendations of potential directions for future research are given.