Advances in Oxygen Defect‐Mediated Photothermal Catalytic CO 2 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 CO 2 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 CO 2 reduction and utilization. This paper systematically reviews recent developments, advancements, and future prospects of oxygen defect‐mediated PT catalysts for CO 2 reduction. First, the fundamental concepts and principles of PT catalysis are summarized, followed by an overview of various types of oxides, including TiO 2 , ZrO 2 , In 2 O 3 , 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 CO 2 reduction is detailed, specifically focusing on the synthesis of C1 and C 2+ chemicals. Finally, the findings are summarized and future directions are proposed for oxygen defect‐mediated PT catalytic CO 2 reduction. This review provides a timely and comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying O v in PT catalytic CO 2 reduction, emphasizing its significance in enhancing CO 2 resource utilization.