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.