Plasmon catalysis is an interesting technology concept for powering chemical processes with light. Here, we report the use of various Al2O3‐supported Ru spheroidal nanoparticles as catalyst for the low‐temperature conversion of CO2 and H2 to CH4 (Sabatier reaction), using sunlight as energy source. At high loadings of Ru spheroidal nanoparticles (5.9 % w/w), we observe a sharp increase in the rate of the sunlight powered reaction when compared to the reaction in dark at the same catalyst bed temperature. Based on our results we exclude plasmon coupling as cause, and attribute the rate enhancement to collective photothermal heating of the Al2O3‐supported Ru nanoparticles.

The interaction between plasmonic metal catalysts and visible light can be exploited to increase their catalytic activity. This activity increase results from the generation of hot charge carriers or hot surfaces, or a combination of both. We have studied the light-induced Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of bromobenzene and m-tolylboronic acid using Pddecorated Au nanorods as plasmonic catalyst in order to assess which physical effect dominates. Comparative experiments under laser illumination and in dark were performed, demonstrating that under the experimental conditions applied in our study the catalytic activity achieved upon illumination is dominantly based on the conversion of light to heat by the plasmonic catalyst. Pd leached from the catalyst also plays a significant role in the reaction mechanism.[a] M.

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