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The reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction driven by Nb2O5 nanorod‐supported Pd nanocrystals without external heating using visible and near infrared (NIR) light is demonstrated. By measuring the dependence of the RWGS reaction rates on the intensity and spectral power distribution of filtered light incident onto the nanostructured Pd@Nb2O5 catalyst, it is determined that the RWGS reaction is activated photothermally. That is the RWGS reaction is initiated by heat generated from thermalization of charge carriers in the Pd nanocrystals that are excited by interband and intraband absorption of visible and NIR light. Taking advantage of this photothermal effect, a visible and NIR responsive Pd@Nb2O5 hybrid catalyst that efficiently hydrogenates CO2 to CO at an impressive rate as high as 1.8 mmol gcat−1 h−1 is developed. The mechanism of this photothermal reaction involves H2 dissociation on Pd nanocrystals and subsequent spillover of H to the Nb2O5 nanorods whereupon adsorbed CO2 is hydrogenated to CO. This work represents a significant enhancement in our understanding of the underlying mechanism of photothermally driven CO2 reduction and will help guide the way toward the development of highly efficient catalysts that exploit the full solar spectrum to convert gas‐phase CO2 to valuable chemicals and fuels.

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Hybrid nanocrystal/polymer bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells consisting of colloidal inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals as electron acceptors and conjugated polymers as electron donors have been extensively investigated in the past few decades, which take advantage of the strongpoints of the inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals and the conjugated polymers. Currently, power conversion efficiency over 3% for the hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells has been achieved. Although the development of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells lacks behind the international level, great progress in this research field has been made in China. In this article, we first review the general fabrication techniques and general working principles of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells. Secondly, we highlight the international and national developments of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells based on different types of semiconductor nanocrystals and conjugated polymers. Finally, we give a future outlook for the hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells in the worldwide.