Rational design of photoelectron-trapped/accumulated site and transportation path for superior photocatalyst

Although photocatalysts are enormously explored for solar energy utilization, it remains a challenge to construct a highly efficient photocatalytic system by successfully steering the charge separation, transportation and consumption. Here we designed a novel photocatalyst by rationally constructing the photoelectron-trapped/accumulated site and electron transportation path via assembling TiO2, Ag and SrSO4 nanoparticle together, where TiO2 nanoparticles work as a solar energy harvester to generate electron-hole pairs, Ag nanoparticles conduct as electrons trapped and accumulated sites, and SrSO4 nanoparticles are used to build coherent electron transportation paths and consumption sites. Our work provides a general bottom-up route for designing and preparing novel photocatalysts with ultrafast charge separation and highly catalytic activates.