Advances in Oxygen Defect‐Mediated Photothermal Catalytic CO₂ Hydrogenation Reduction

Abstract Photothermal (PT) catalysis significantly reduces the activation energy of reactions through a synergistic PT effect, resulting in milder reaction conditions and improved catalytic efficiency compared to traditional thermal catalytic methods, which is widely applied in CO₂ reduction. Engineering oxygen defects (O_v) can induce substantial alterations in the structure and function of PT catalysts, thereby greatly influencing their catalytic performance. Consequently, the design and development of PT catalysts with abundant O_v is essential for advancing CO₂ reduction and utilization. This paper systematically reviews recent developments, advancements, and future prospects of oxygen defect‐mediated PT catalysts for CO₂ reduction. First, the fundamental concepts and principles of PT catalysis are summarized, followed by an overview of various types of oxides, including TiO₂, ZrO₂, In₂O₃, among others. Then the techniques and methods used for characterizing O_v are outlined. Subsequently, the progress in the application of oxygen defect‐mediated catalysts in CO₂ reduction is detailed, specifically focusing on the synthesis of C1 and C₂₊ chemicals. Finally, the findings are summarized and future directions are proposed for oxygen defect‐mediated PT catalytic CO₂ reduction. This review provides a timely and comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying O_v in PT catalytic CO₂ reduction, emphasizing its significance in enhancing CO₂ resource utilization.