Photothermal　catalytic　CO2　reduction　has　emerged　as　a　promising　approach　to　efficiently　utilize　solar　energy　and　reduce　greenhouse　gas　emissions.　Designing　novel　catalyst　with　high　activity　and　selectivity　is　essential　and　challenging　for　practical　applications　of　photothermal　CO2　reduction.　Herein,　we　report　that　natural　halloysite　nanotubes-supported　Ru　nanoparticles　can　boost　the　photothermal　catalytic　activity　and　selectivity　of　CO2　methanation　under　continuous　flow　conditions.　The　photothermal　catalytic　performance　of　optimized　catalyst　is　up　to　1704　mmolCH4　gcat−1　h−1　with　93%　CH4　selectivity　and　68%　CO2　conversion,　outperforming　any　other　Ru-based　catalysts　in　photothermal　CO2　reduction.　Mechanistic　studies　show　that　the　outstanding　catalytic　performance　is　mainly　attributed　to　the　unique　mesoporous　tubular　structure,　excellent　ability　of　light-to-heat　and　interfacial　interactions　between　the　halloysite　nanotubes　and　Ru.　This　method　of　utilizing　natural　minerals　as　support　provides　a　facile　avenue　for　rational　design　of　abundant　and　low-cost　catalysts　for　efficient　photothermal　catalytic　CO2　reduction.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.