Near-Infrared-Responsive Catalysts for Gas-Solid Phase Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction: Design Strategies, Performance,...

The escalating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration and depletion of fossil fuels have spurred intensive research into sustainable CO₂ conversion technologies. The photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) in gas-solid phase systems offers distinct advantages over liquid-phase counterparts, including enhanced mass transfer, simplified product separation and reduced side reactions. Notably, near-infrared (NIR) light constitutes approximately 50% of the solar spectrum; however, traditional photocatalysts rarely utilize this low-energy region, thereby limiting overall solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency. This review systematically summarizes the rationale, design strategies and catalytic performance of NIR-responsive photocatalysts for gas-solid phase CO₂RR. Key approaches include the engineering of metallic/narrow-bandgap conductors, the introduction of defects/intermediate bands, the construction of plasmonic heterojunctions, atomic-level doping, the integration of single-atom active sites and the development of metal-free photothermal systems. These strategies address core challenges such as extending spectral response, enhancing charge separation and optimizing CO₂ activation. Representative catalysts exhibit efficient NIR-driven CO₂ reduction to value-added products (e.g., carbon monoxide, methane, methanol) with high selectivity and stability. This review provides critical insights into unlocking full-spectrum solar energy utilization and advancing practical CO₂RR technologies for carbon neutrality.