Enhanced Photothermal\nCatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction\nto High Selective C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub> by Cooperative Interaction\nof Oxygen Vacancy and WTe<sub>2</sub> Semimetal Cocatalyst In Situ\nGr

Photothermal catalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction offers\na dual solution\nto the greenhouse effect and energy crisis. Enhancing this process\nthrough the development of effective cocatalysts has proven to be\na practical approach. In this study, the WO<sub>2.9</sub>/WTe<sub>2</sub> photothermal catalyst was synthesized via an in situ growth\nmethod. The catalyst achieved an ethylene production rate of 122.9\nμmol·g<sup>–1</sup>, with a selectivity of 78%.\nEven at a reactor temperature of 240 °C, the ethylene yield reached\n475.3 μmol·g<sup>–1</sup>. This improvement in yield\ncan be attributed to the synergistic effects of the semimetal cocatalyst\nWTe<sub>2</sub> and oxygen vacancies, which exhibit superior catalytic\nactivity. In situ DRIFTS and DFT analyses highlighted the critical\nrole of intermediary aldehyde groups in facilitating C–C coupling.\nWO<sub>2.9</sub> contributes by modulating the band gap and enhancing\nCO<sub>2</sub> adsorption via oxygen vacancies, while WTe<sub>2</sub> effectively captures intermediate aldehyde groups, fostering a surface\nrich in intermediates and promoting C–C bond formation. Additionally,\nthermal energy accelerates CO<sub>2</sub> activation and the C–C\ncoupling process, creating optimal conditions for generating C<sub>2+</sub> products. This research provides innovative strategies for\ndesigning photothermal catalysts and new insights into producing multicarbon\nfuels through a synergistic photothermal catalytic approach.