Dynamic Phase Evolution of α-MoC _{1– <i>x</i>} Nanorods under Plasma-Catalyst Synergy: Achieving Energy-Efficient CO ₂ Conversion

α-MoC1–x has been widely recognized as a highly active catalyst for the reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction, yet its performance and dynamic phase evolution in plasma-catalytic mode remain unexplored. Herein, hydrothermally synthesized α-MoC1–x nanorods (NR) achieve an exceptional reaction rate of 46.4 molCO2 gcat–1 h–1 in plasma-catalytic mode at an input power of 23 W without any thermal input. On the premise of comparable CO2 conversion (∼44%) and CO selectivity (∼100%), the energy efficiency of the plasma-catalytic process exhibits a 4-fold improvement compared with thermal catalysis at 600 °C. It is also demonstrated that the in situ phase evolution of α-MoC1–x into β-Mo2C in plasma-catalytic mode is promoted by the plasma-enhanced carbon removal in the form of CH4, particularly at high input power. This work provides fundamental insights into plasma-catalyst synergy and establishes an energy-efficient plasma-catalytic strategy for CO2 conversion without external heating.