Photoinduced conversion of carbon dioxide and water molecules to methanol on the surface of molybdenum oxide MoO$_{x}$ $(x<2)$

X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopic data are used to demonstrate that, when pulsed laser light with a photon energy of 6.4 eV acts on the surface of nonstoichiometric molybdenum oxide MoO$_{x}$ $(x<2)$, methanol is effectively formed from adsorbed molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The processes in which CO$_2$ and H$_2$O molecules are adsorbed on substrate surface defects and their bonds are activated, enhanced under the effect of photons, should be regarded as the key factors.