Recent advances in catalysts for photothermal catalytic dry reforming of methane

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) converts primary greenhouse gases (CH 4 and CO 2 ) into valuable syngas, offering a critical pathway toward achieving global carbon neutrality. However, conventional high-temperature thermocatalysis persistently suffers from severe carbon deposition and rapid metal sintering. Photothermal catalytic DRM (PDRM) effectively overcomes these fundamental limitations by synergistically coupling photonic and thermal energy inputs, thereby significantly lowering apparent activation energies and sustaining long-term operational stability. While recent literature heavily emphasizes macroscopic reactor engineering and techno-economic modeling, this review provides a distinctive, bottom-up deconstruction of PDRM catalysts ranging from atomic precision to macro-structural functionalization. We systematically clarify the dual-path (photochemical and photothermal) synergistic mechanisms and critically analyze active site engineering, spanning the electronic modulation of precious metals, cost-effective non-precious metal alloying, and maximum atom utilization in single-atom catalysts. Furthermore, we highlight the pivotal role of active site-support interactions, specifically dissecting how dynamic defect engineering, precise pore engineering, and robust confinement effects within diverse core-shell nanostructures inherently suppress catalyst deactivation pathways. Finally, we highlight essential future commercialization frontiers such as full-spectrum responsive materials, multi-field coupled reactors, and rigorous lifecycle assessments to accelerate the industrial-scale deployment of highly efficient DRM technologies