Phase reconstruction of In-Mo oxide boosts CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.

An In0.5Mo0.5 oxide catalyst alleviates the activity-selectivity trade-off in CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. Reduction-driven reconstruction of In2(MoO4)3 generates intimate In-Mo oxide interfaces, while In-to-Mo electron transfer creates oxygen vacancies and promotes H2 activation, delivering the highest methanol space-time yield among the tested catalysts.