Cell‐Tailored Multi‐Chamber Cd5(PO4)3Cl/CdO Mesocrystals Hetero‐Superstructure Toward Promoting Charge Transfer for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution.

Elaborate mesocrystal superstructures assembled by nanocrystals enable the photocatalysts to effectively transfer photo‐generated charges over long‐distance. Especially, the hetero superstructure can facilely adjust the bandgaps to promote the separation of electron–hole pairs and enhance photocatalytic activity. Herein, a unique bio‐derived mesocrystal superstructures with multi‐chamber network is developed tactfully using the yeast cells with multi‐ascopore as templates obtained by sexual reproduction way. Specifically, the natural phosphorus and oxygen species derived from the yeast are tactfully exploited during the synthetic process of Cd5(PO4)3Cl/CdO hetero‐superstructure. The transient surface photovoltage and the time‐resolved transient photoluminescence (PL) result indicate that the well‐defined orientation of the mesocrystal contributes to enhancing photogenerated carriers transfer efficiency and reducing the recombination of electron–hole pairs. The hetero‐superstructures exhibit an excellent solar H2 releasing activity (18.71 mmol·g−1·h−1) and a high quantum yield of 28.27% at wavelength of 380 nm. The design of hetero‐superstructure with multi‐chamber by means of the inner interlaced network and microelements of the organisms introduces a new clue to construct functional materials with hierarchical structures for solar fuel conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]