Abstract
The catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2), generated in large quantities at oil and gas production facilities and gas processing plants, into high-value hydrocarbons is regarded as a promising pathway for the development of low-carbon petrochemical technologies. Particular attention has been devoted to iron-based catalysts capable of hydrogenating CO2 into olefins, alcohols, and other C2+ products that can serve as valuable feedstocks for petrochemical applications. This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding of the structural evolution of iron-based catalysts under CO2 hydrogenation conditions. The effects of catalyst composition, promoters, textural characteristics, activation procedures, and reaction conditions on the formation of active phases, the carburization of iron oxides, and the selectivity toward C2+ products are systematically analyzed. In addition, the mechanisms of phase transformations between iron oxides and iron carbides, as well as their roles in the formation of olefins and oxygenated compounds, are discussed. The analysis provides deeper insight into the relationship between the structure of ironbased catalysts and product selectivity. The findings may serve as a practical foundation for the development of efficient catalysts and the optimization of CO2 conversion processes aimed at producing valuable feedstocks for the petrochemical and gas-processing industries.