Vacancy defects engineering in Yolk-shelled Co-CeO2 for efficient visible Light-Driven CO2 reduction

•Yolk-shelled Co-CeO2-H2 octahedrons with rich vacancy defects are prepared by sequential calcinating the Co-incorporated Ce-UiO-66 precursor.•Defect engineering on the catalyst surface promotes efficient carrier separation and transfer and reduces the energy barrier for CO2 activation and transformation.•Co-incorporation with CeO2 is responsible for extended light absorption.•1%–Co-CeO2-H2 exhibits significantly enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity.