Artificial photosynthesis harnesses clean and sustainable solar power to catalyze the conversion of CO₂ and H₂O molecules into valuable chemicals and O₂. This sustainable approach combines energy conversion with environmental pollution control. Non-oxide photocatalysts with broad visible-light absorption and suitable band structures, hold immense potential for CO₂ conversion. Nevertheless, they still face numerous challenges in practical applications, particularly in CO₂ conversion with H₂O. Surface modification and functionalization play the significant role in improving the activity of non-oxide photocatalysts. Multifarious strategies, such as cocatalyst loading, surface regulation, doping engineering, and heterostructure construction, have been explored to optimize light harvesting, bandgap driving force, electron–hole pairs separation/transfer, CO₂ adsorption, activation, and catalysis processes. This review summarizes recent progress in surface modification strategies for non-oxide photocatalysts and discusses their enhancement mechanisms for efficient CO₂ conversion. These insights are expected to guide the design of high-performance non-oxide photocatalyst systems.

Graphical Abstract

Surface modification of non-oxide photocatalysts having broad visible-light absorption holds immense potential for CO₂ reduction with H₂O towards clean energy conversion.