Volatile　organic　compounds　(VOCs)　can　cause　atmospheric　environmental　problems　such　as　haze　and　photochemical　smog,　which　seriously　restrict　the　sustainable　development　of　the　environment　and　threaten　human　health.　Effective　and　comprehensive　implementation　of　VOC　prevention　is　an　arduous　task.　Catalytic　oxidation　can　achieve　VOC　removal　with　low　energy　costs　and　high　efficiency.　This　review　presents　representative　research　progress　in　thermal　or　photothermal　catalysis　over　the　past　ten　years,　concentrating　on　various　catalysts　with　distinctive　morphologies　and　structures　designed　and　prepared　for　investigating　single-　or　multi-component　VOC　purification,　synergetic　elimination　of　VOCs　and　NOx,　and　VOCs　resource　utilization.　Furthermore,　the　influence　mechanisms　of　H2O,　CO2,　and　SO2　on　the　catalytic　stability　are　summarized.　The　activity　and　stability　of　the　catalysts　affect　their　lifespan　and　cost　of　use.　In　particular,　for　supported　noble-metal　catalysts　with　poor　stability,　some　unique　design　strategies　have　been　summarized　for　the　efficient　removal　of　VOCs　while　balancing　low　noble-metal　usage　and　optimized　catalytic　performance.　Finally,　the　scientific　problems　and　future　research　directions　are　presented.　Coordinated　treatment　of　atmospheric　pollutants　and　greenhouse　gases　should　be　considered.　This　study　is　expected　to　provide　profound　insights　into　the　design　of　catalysts　with　high　activity,　selectivity,　and　stability,　as　well　as　air　pollution　control　via　catalytic　methods.　©　2024　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences