In recent years, the increasing level of CO2 in the atmosphere has not only contributed to global warming but has also triggered considerable interest in photocatalytic reduction of CO2. The reduction of CO2 with H2O using sunlight is an innovative way to solve the current growing environmental challenges. This paper reviews the basic principles of photocatalysis and photocatalytic CO2 reduction, discusses the measures of the photocatalytic efficiency and summarizes current advances in the exploration of this technology using different types of semiconductor photocatalysts, such as TiO2 and modified TiO2, layered-perovskite Ag/ALa4Ti4O15 (A = Ca, Ba, Sr), ferroelectric LiNbO3, and plasmonic photocatalysts. Visible light harvesting, novel plasmonic photocatalysts offer potential solutions for some of the main drawbacks in this reduction process. Effective plasmonic photocatalysts that have shown reduction activities towards CO2 with H2O are highlighted here. Although this technology is still at an embryonic stage, further studies with standard theoretical and comprehensive format are suggested to develop photocatalysts with high production rates and selectivity. Based on the collected results, the immense prospects and opportunities that exist in this technique are also reviewed here.

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Artificial photosynthesis is copying in practically less complex structure to achieve the consequences of natural photosynthesis. The process includes coupling solar powered driven water splitting and CO2 reduction. It takes place in a way that dispenses with the requirement for an external, sacrificial electron donor is one of the colossal difficulties for the utilization of renewable energy and a sustainable development. For all intents and purposes, ʹʹCO2 reductionʹʹ is more emerging than ʹʹwater splittingʹʹ since it not just adds to worldwide carbon cycling for carbon unbiased natural powers, mimicking what genuine leaves do (characteristic carbon reduction), additionally mitigating worldwide atmosphere changes. However, as CO2 is a generally dormant and stable exacerbate, its diminishment is entirely testing. The photo catalytic dwindling of CO2 has been generally expected for quite a while and additionally water splitting. For heterogeneous photo catalyst, numerous endeavors still concentrate on TiO2-based materials while different photo catalysts, for example, LiNbO3, ZnGa2O4, ALa4Ti4O15 (A=Ca, Sr, and Ba) etc. have additionally been accounted for as of late. Nevertheless, the advance accomplished in this field had not been as sensational as that in water splitting for a few decades in view of the low efficiencies, limited photo catalyst and/or requiring the utilization of sacrificial reducing agents. The study finds out current gaps inside of the advancement of recent photo-catalytic materials for artificial photosynthesis.