The photochemical conversion of CO₂ into fuels has promise as a strategy for storage of intermittent solar energy in the form of chemical bonds. However, higher-energy-value hydrocarbons are rarely produced by this strategy, because of the kinetic challenges associated with multi-electron, multi-proton, and C–C coupling reactions required for hydrocarbon generation. My talk will make the case that catalysts comprised of plasmonic metal nanostructures may be well-suited to this challenge. With Au, Ag, and Cu nanostructures, it is possible to pair strong light-matter interactions with the ability of these metals to activate CO₂. Using Au nanoparticle-based photocatalysts, we have realized green-light-driven synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO₂ and H₂O, with no applied potential or high temperatures. In this scheme, plasmonic excitation of Au nanoparticles produces a charge-rich environment at the nanoparticle/solution interface conducive for CO₂ activation. Alongside, we employ an ionic liquid to stabilize charged intermediates formed at this interface. The outcome is a rich cocktail of C₁-C₃ hydrocarbon products. Thus, unlike electrochemical CO₂ reduction on Au, C-C coupling appears to be prevalent in this light-driven scheme, which suggests that unique reaction pathways are possible under plasmonic excitation. The product selectivity is dependent on the attributes of the exciting light, which opens up avenues for mechanistic understanding and light-mediated control of reactivity.