Issue

Vol. 19 (2027)

Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation to Multicarbon Products: Mechanisms, Catalyst Design, and Scale Demonstration

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02351-0
Yanlin Liao
Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco‑Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China
Ying Luo
Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco‑Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China
Zheng Wang
Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco‑Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China
Qiang Wang
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Hong He
Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco‑Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Hong He

honghe@rcees.ac.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 19 (2027), Article Number: 60

Abstract

Photothermal CO2 hydrogenation to multicarbon products presents a promising route to mitigate global climate change while simultaneously generating valuable C2+ products for industrial use. However, realizing high activity and selectivity toward multicarbon products remains a significant challenge, primarily due to the intricate nature of reactant activation and the inherently sluggish kinetics of C−C coupling. This review elucidates the fundamental principles of photothermal catalysis, with a particular focus on the synergistic interplay between light and thermal energy. In addition, the activation pathways of CO2 to C1 intermediates and the subsequent mechanisms of C−C bond formation leading to multicarbon products are systematically examined. On this basis, catalyst design and modification strategies are categorized to enhance reactant activation and facilitate efficient C−C coupling. Furthermore, recent progress in pilot-scale demonstrations is highlighted to showcase the potential for scalable and sustainable CO2 hydrogenation technologies. By addressing the current challenges and outlining future research directions, this review aims to accelerate the development of efficient photothermal processes for CO2 valorization.


Highlights:
1 Photothermal synergistic mechanism and reaction pathways from CO2 to C2+ products are systematically elucidated, providing a mechanistic basis for multicarbon product synthesis.
2 Photothermal catalyst modification strategies are comprehensively summarized from a pathway-oriented perspective to enhance reactant activation and promote C−C coupling toward C2+ products.
3 Recent photothermal scale demonstrations are highlighted, underscoring the practical potential of scalable and sustainable CO2 hydrogenation technologies.

Keywords

Photothermal catalysis CO2 hydrogenation C−C coupling C2 products Scale demonstration
Liao, Yanlin, Ying Luo, Zheng Wang, Qiang Wang, and Hong He. 2026. “Photothermal CO2 Hydrogenation to Multicarbon Products: Mechanisms, Catalyst Design, and Scale Demonstration”. Nano-Micro Letters 19 (November):60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02351-0.
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