Photothermal Catalytic CO₂ Conversion to Value-Added Chemicals: Progress and Prospects

The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemicals is promising for the industrial production of essential chemical feedstocks and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, current conversion efficiencies remain challenging primarily due to sluggish kinetics and high energy consumption. Photothermal catalysis has exhibited great potential by combining solar and thermal energy to enhance the CO2 reduction performance. This Perspective summarizes the most recent advancements in photothermal catalytic CO2 conversion, with a primary focus on the development of efficient photothermal catalysts and the design of reactors for various CO2 hydrogenation reactions. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of photothermal CO2 conversion are discussed, aiming to provide novel strategies and in-depth insights for designing innovative photothermal catalysts and reactors that offer enhanced CO2 conversion efficiency, selectivity, durability, and cost-effectiveness, ultimately addressing the obstacles limiting the practical application of photothermal CO2 conversion.