CO2　is　a　viable　renewable　energy　source,　as　global　CO2　emissions　are　perennially　increasing.　The　decomposition　of　CO2　to　CO　and　O2　through　high-temperature　cracking　of　metal　oxides　via　a　two-step　thermochemical　cycle　has　been　an　effective　strategy　to　reduce　CO2　concentrations　in　the　atmosphere.　However,　this　thermochemical　cycle　requires　a　high　reaction　temperature　(1273　K).　Hence,　in　this　study,　we　investigated　photothermal　CO2　decomposition　over　three　CeO2　catalysts　with　different　morphologies:　porous　CeO2　nanosheets　(2D-CeO2),　cubicshaped　CeO2　(C-CeO2),　and　octahedral　CeO2　(O-CeO2).　The　photothermal　synergistic　effect　eliminated　the　necessity　of　high　temperatures,　where　light　illumination　increased　the　generation　of　oxygen　vacancies　and　electron　transfer　to　promote　CO2　decomposition.　The　maximum　rate　of　CO　production　by　2D-CeO2　at　250　degrees　C　was　69　mu　mol　g-1h-1,　which　is　significantly　higher　than　those　of　O-CeO2　(47　mu　mol　g-1h-　1)　and　C-CeO2　(19　mu　mol　g-1h-　1).　However,　no　activity　was　observed　in　dark　conditions,　even　at　250　degrees　C.　In-situ　DRIFTS,　quasi　in-situ　EPR,　XPS,　and　Ar-TPD　experiments　revealed　that　light　irradiation　promotes　the　production　of　oxygen　vacancies　on　the　catalyst　surface　and　generates　the　intermediate　CO2　center　dot-　species,　which　cleave　the　C=O　bonds　and　CO2　conversion,　while　temperature　promotes　the　adsorption　of　CO2　on　the　catalyst　surface　and　facilitates　electron　transfer.　DFT　calculations　revealed　the　differences　in　oxygen　vacancy　formation　and　CO2　adsorption　among　various　exposed　crystal　facets　of　CeO2.　These　findings　provide　new　avenues　for　CO2　decomposition　based　on　the　adsorption　and　activation　of　CO2　on　metal　oxide　surfaces　and　the　low-temperature　synergistic　photothermal　effect.