Highly efficient and highly selective CO2 reduction to CO driven by laser

Carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction is a possible way to solve the greenhouse effect. Conventional catalytic CO2 reduction faces some problems, such as high free energy barriers, limitation of cheap and effective catalysts. Here, we develop a highly efficient and highly selective CO2 reduction under mild conditions by laser reduction in liquid (LRL). A high CO yield of 12.3 mmol h−1 with near 100% selectivity and 13.3% energy conversion efficiency of laser to CO is achieved. In LRL, abundant active species are created immediately by laser-induced plasma in small bubbles along with transient extremely high temperature. Thermodynamically, CO2 reduction proceeds quickly with the interaction of active species at high temperature. Kinetically, the rapid quenching process inhibits reverse reaction and keeps products at initial stage. The synergy of thermodynamics and kinetics results in high yield and high selectivity. These findings provide an alternative approach for CO2 reduction under ambient conditions.