Photo-induced enhancement of reverse water–gas shift over Mo-modified cerium oxide†

The reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction, converting CO₂ into CO, is a promising approach for sustainable carbon utilization. However, high energy demand poses significant barriers to its practical application. Here, we report the development of platinum-loaded metal-modified cerium oxide catalysts (Pt/M_xCe_1−xO_y), designed to enhance RWGS reaction efficiency through photocatalytic and photothermal catalytic approaches, aiming at solar light utilization. Mo-modified catalysts exhibited a high CO formation rate of 10.2 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 473 K in the dark and 23.5 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible and near-infrared light irradiation, which outperformed the catalytic activity of the pristine Pt/CeO_y catalyst. Detailed characterization revealed that Mo doping improved CO₂ adsorption and dissociation capability. Moreover, under visible-NIR light irradiation, the catalyst performance further improved due to thermal and non-thermal effects of light irradiation. These findings highlight a dual enhancement mechanism—light-induced thermal and non-thermal pathways—that significantly boosts catalytic efficiency. This study provides valuable insights into designing advanced light-responsive catalysts, offering a promising pathway toward efficient and sustainable CO₂ conversion technologies.