Nanoconfined Photothermal Catalysis: Mechanisms, Engineering Strategies, and Solar Fuel Synthesis

dry/wet reforming, and directional transformation of light alkanes. However, critical challenges persist: unclear multi-physical-field coupling mechanisms; insufficient precision in sub-nanomaterial synthesis and long-term stability; thermal management-mass transfer mismatches; reaction kinetics-mass transfer trade-offs; difficulty controlling complex reaction networks; and absent scale-up pathways. This review clarifies the fundamental nature of confined catalysis to guide the development of novel multifunctional materials, break stability limits, achieve cross-scale process intensification and system integration, ultimately advancing industrial-scale, efficient, highly selective solar fuel synthesis technologies.