Rapid Identification of Efficient Photocatalysts by Visualizing the Spatial Distribution of Photoinduced Charge Carriers

Abstract

The design of high performance photocatalysts is of great importance for solar energy conversion. However, the rapid identification of efficient photocatalysts is challenging because of the complex dynamics of photoinduced charge carriers. Herein, we develop an experimental descriptor, the average fluorescence intensity (AFI), to rapidly identify high-performance photocatalysts using fluorescence microscopic visualization of charge dynamics. As a proof of concept, the CuFeO2/ZIF-67 heterojunction was used to visualize the spatial distribution of photoinduced charges with the identified diffusion length. Furthermore, a linear relationship was obtained between photocatalytic activities and the AFI, indicating an improved charge separation efficiency in the heterojunction responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of photoinduced charge carriers and offers a promising descriptor for the future design of efficient photocatalysts.