α and β phase molybdenum carbides nanowires have been controllably synthesized.
Both phase molybdenum carbides showed high activity for CO2 reduction to CO.
Nearly 100% CO selectivity can be obtained under CO2 conversion of above 60%.
CO selectivity maintained above 99.9% during 20 h of continuous test at 600 °C.
A formate decomposition mechanism for the RWGS reaction was proposed.