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.

Confronting expanding demand for energy and ecological concerns, artificial photosynthesis in reasonably less complex structure to achieve the consequences of natural photosynthesis that is coupling solar powered driven water splitting and CO₂ lessening 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, ''CO₂ diminishment'' is more emerging than ''water splitting'' since it not just adds to worldwide carbon cycling for carbon unbiased natural powers, copying what genuine leaves do (characteristic carbon reduction), additionally mitigating worldwide atmosphere changes. Nonetheless, as CO₂ is a generally dormant and stable exacerbate, its diminishment is entirely testing. The photocatalytic lessening of CO₂ has been generally contemplated for quite a while and additionally water part. For heterogeneous photocatalyst, numerous endeavours still concentrate on TiO₂-based materials while different impetuses, for example, LiNbO₃, ZnGa₂O₄, ALa₄TiO₄ (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 photocatalyst and/or requiring the utilization of sacrificial reducing agents. The study may even manage current gaps inside of the advancement of photocatalytic materials, i.e., the synergy among photocatalytic materials for artificial photosynthesis.