Photothermal Catalysts, Light and Heat Management: From Materials Design to Performance Evaluation (Adv. Energy Mater. 12/2025)

Photothermal Catalysis

In article number 2405272, Enrique V. Ramos-Fernandez and co-workers explore photothermal catalysis, classifying it into light-driven thermocatalysis, thermally enhanced photocatalysis, and photo-thermo coupling catalysis. Emphasizing materials like plasmonic nanoparticles and semiconductors, it examines light and heat management, catalytic stability, and efficiency. Applications in CO₂ reduction, ammonia synthesis, and plastic upcycling are highlighted, alongside challenges in scalability and reactor design, paving the way for sustainable industrial solutions.