Solar Hydrocarbons: Single‐Step, Atmospheric‐Pressure Synthesis of C₂−C₄ Alkanes and Alkenes from CO₂

Abstract Cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) spinel has been found to produce C 2 −C 4 hydrocarbons in a single‐step, ambient‐pressure, photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 with a rate of 1.1 mmol g −1 h −1 , selectivity of 29.8 % and conversion yield of 12.9 %. On stream the CoFe 2 O 4 reconstructs to a CoFe−CoFe 2 O 4 alloy‐spinel nanocomposite which facilitates the light‐assisted transformation of CO 2 to CO and hydrogenation of the CO to C 2 −C 4 hydrocarbons. Promising results obtained from a laboratory demonstrator bode well for the development of a solar hydrocarbon pilot refinery.