Catalyst engineering for CO2/CO conversion to sustainable aviation fuels: Pathway regulation and selectivity enhancement

The conversion of CO2/CO mixtures into sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) offers a promising carbon-neutral route for decarbonizing the aviation sector. Thermocatalytic approaches such as reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) coupled with Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) or direct CO2 hydrogenation have demonstrated significant potential for producing hydrocarbons within the jet fuel range (C8-C16), including olefins, monocyclic aromatics, and isoparaffins. However, selectivity toward jet fuel precursors remains a key challenge due to competing intermediates and reaction complexity. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in catalyst design strategies aimed at improving SAF precursor selectivity. We highlight component engineering, defect generation (oxygen vacancies), acidity modulation, phase control, and bifunctional synergy between metal oxides and zeolites. For instance, tailoring Brønsted/Lewis acid site distributions and pore architectures in ZSM-5 or SAPO-based zeolites enables selective formation of C8-C12 aromatics and light olefins. Strategies such as metal doping and spatial confinement are also emphasized for enhancing intermediate coupling and conversion. We further discuss pathway-dependent mechanisms and how catalyst features impact CO2/CO hydrogenation efficiency, including RWGS kinetics, ASF distribution limits, and methanol/olefin/aromatic coupling. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on integrating catalytic optimization with reactor design, in situ characterization, and techno-economic evaluation to accelerate practical deployment of SAF production from renewable CO2/CO.