Switching Light for Site-Directed Spatial Loading of Cocatalysts onto Heterojunction Photocatalysts with Boosted Redox Catalysis

Cocatalyst loading is widely used as an approach in photocatalysis to expedite photoinduced charge separation and interfacial oxidation-reduction kinetics, which are crucial factors for affecting redox catalysis efficiency over semiconductor-based photocatalysts. However, tackling the key problem of cocatalyst loading position over heterojunction photocatalysts is still a great challenge. We herein report a facile and general light-tuning photodeposition strategy to realize site-directed spatial loading of diverse cocatalysts (MoS2, NixS, NixO, NixP, Pt) onto a CdS/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalyst, thereby abating surface charge recombination and markedly improving the photoredox-catalyzed activity of hydrogen evolution and selective oxidation of alcohol. This work highlights the wide scope of manipulating light to spatially regulate the cocatalyst loading position, thereby optimizing surface/interface charge recombination dynamics and ameliorating the net efficiency of charge separation and photoredox catalysis.