Visualization of charge carriers in photocatalysts.

A recent study published in the journal Nature has provided new insights into the charge-transfer processes that occur in photocatalytic reactions. The researchers used unique methods involving time-resolved and spatiotemporally resolved measurements to monitor these processes in Cu2O semiconductors. They found that quasi-ballistic inter-facet electron transfer and spatially selective trapping are the predominant processes that facilitate efficient charge separation in photocatalysts. This knowledge could lead to the development of high-performance semiconductors for various applications. The study utilized surface photovoltage microscopy and time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy to observe the charge-transfer processes spatially and temporally. [Extracted from the article]