Engineering Organic Polymers for Photocatalytic CO 2 Reduction

ABSTRACT To address the urgent global challenges of climate change and energy demand, photocatalytic CO 2 reduction has emerged as a pivotal technology that moves beyond simple renewable energy harvesting by using solar energy to convert CO 2 into valuable fuels and chemicals, thus actively reducing carbon emissions. Recently, organic polymer photocatalysts have emerged as a promising alternative, offering pyrolysis‐free synthesis, high surface areas, and exceptional molecular‐level tunability. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the rational design and engineering of organic polymers for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. First, we present the fundamental mechanisms of the CO 2 reduction reaction and the key principles for designing organic polymer photocatalysts. We then provide a systematic analysis of design engineering at the molecular level, with a focus on tailored strategies to boost light absorption, charge separation/transfer, and surface reaction. Furthermore, various organic polymer photocatalysts, ranging from linear conjugated polymers and carbon nitrides to conjugated microporous polymers, metal–organic frameworks, hypercrosslinked polymers, and supramolecular polymers, are summarized. Finally, the review concludes with perspectives on current challenges and future research directions, aiming to guide the design of high‐performance polymer photocatalysts and advance the understanding of structure‐performance relationships in artificial photosynthesis.