Autocatalytic Hydrothermal CO2 Reduction with Manganese to Produce Formic Acid

Global warming caused by the continued increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ is predicted to lead to important changes in climate, and thus, reduction in the levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere has become an extensive and urgent task. The water splitting for CO₂ reduction with solar energy is regarded as one of the most effective ways for the sustainable development of environment and energy; however, a high solar-to-fuel efficiency remains a great challenge. In this chapter, a highly effective and selective system of water splitting for the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into formic acid with metallic manganese (Mn) is reported, which may provide a promising method for the highly efficient dissociation of water for CO2 reduction by combining solar-driven thermochemistry with reduction of MnO into Mn.