Tailoring Catalyst Structure and Function via Nonthermal Plasma for Greenhouse Gas Valorization

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology is emerging as a transformative engineering tool for the rational design and synthesis of advanced catalysts, addressing the critical limitations of conventional high-temperature preparation methods. Operating under mild conditions, the unique nonequilibrium environment of NTP-rich in energetic electrons, ions, and reactive radicals-enables precise, multiscale control over catalyst properties. This allows for the creation of highly dispersed nanoparticles, tailored defect structures, and enhanced metal-support interactions that are often inaccessible via traditional thermal routes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in applying NTP specifically as a synthesis and modification strategy to engineer high-performance catalysts for the valorization of key greenhouse gases, namely CO₂ and CH₄. We focus on how these NTP-engineered catalysts exhibit superior activity, selectivity, and stability in critical reactions, including CO₂ hydrogenation, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, and methane reforming. By elucidating the structure-performance relationships established through plasma-based engineering, this review highlights the unique advantages of NTP in catalyst design and provides insights for the development of next-generation catalysts for sustainable chemical production.