LAUSR

The inevitable emission of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) due to the burning of a substantial amount of fossil fuels has led to serious energy and environmental challenges. Metal-based catalytic CO 2  transformations into commodity chemicals are a favorable approach in the CO 2  mitigation strategy. Among these transformations, selective hydrogenation of CO 2  to methanol is the most promising method that not only fulfils the energy demands but also re-balances the carbon cycle. The investigation of adsorption, binding and activation of CO 2  molecule on the surface of heterogeneous catalysts is highly important because the formation of various intermediates determines the selectivity of product. TMCs have received considerable attention in recent years because of their noble metal-like reactivity, ceramic-like properties, and high chemical and thermal stability. These features make them excellent catalytic materials for a variety of transformations such as CO 2  adsorption, activation, and conversion. Herein, we summarize the catalytic properties of TMCs, synthetic methods, CO 2  binding modes, mechanistic studies, effects of dopant on CO 2  adsorption as well as activation and carbon/metal ratio in the CO 2  hydrogenation reaction to methanol using computational studies. Additionally, this review provides an outline of the challenges and opportunities for the development of potential TMCs in CO 2  hydrogenation reactions.