Geoffry A. Ozin and co-workers demonstrate that the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction, driven by a visible and near infrared responsive Pd@Nb2O5 is thermally activated with measured conversion rates as high as 1.8 mmol gcat−1 h−1, Advanced Science, 2016, DOI: 10.1002/advs.201670051. Specifically, the RWGS reaction is enabled by heat generated from thermalization of photoexcited charge carriers in the Pd nanocrystals that function as “nanoheaters” for the entire Pd@Nb2O5 assembly, through non-radiative relaxation of inter-band and intra-band conduction electron transitions. Overall this study advances our understanding of the underlying mechanism of photothermally driven CO2 reduction. Cover illustration by Chenxi Qian.