Recent Progress in Photothermal-Driven CO₂ Reduction: Fundamentals, Materials Design, and Applications

Photothermal catalysis refers to catalytic processes where both light and heat are used synergistically to promote chemical reactions. The combination of photon energy and thermal energy can enhance catalytic activity, offering advantages such as improved reaction rates, higher selectivity, and better energy efficiency compared to traditional single-energy-driven catalytic processes. Based on how light and heat contribute to the reaction dynamics, the mechanisms of photothermal cooperative catalysis can be classified into three distinct types, including thermo-assisted photocatalysis, photo-assisted thermocatalysis, and synergistic photothermocatalysis. This review starts with the introduction of different principles and reaction forms for each reaction type. Then we introduce different catalysts, reactions, and reactors in photothermal catalysis. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future prospects in this emerging field. © 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH.