Environmental and energy crises are a major threat to the sustainable growth of the human society, calling for greener technologies such as photocatalysis. Photocatalysis is a solar-driven approach that converts photon energy into chemical energy, yet the conversion efficacy of classical photocatalysis is usually restricted and controlled by the charge carrier’s separation and migration. Enhanced conversion requires suppressed recombination rate and superior redox abilities. From this aspect, the manipulation of heterojunction allows to overcome the drawback of classical photocatalysis. The cascade mechanism follows a dual direct charge migration route, resulting in enhanced redox abilities and efficient mineralization of pollutants. Here, we review photocatalytic material aspects in improving redox ability by cascade charge transfer. We describe the mechanisms and applications of three cascade systems: two type-II cascade systems, mediator-based cascade systems, and dual direct Z-scheme. We highlight the superiority of the direct dual cascade route with a prolonged lifetime of carriers, higher quantum yield, and enhanced redox abilities. Applications to carbon dioxide reduction, hydrogen production by water splitting and pollutant degradation are discussed.

环境和能源危机是人类社会可持续发展的主要威胁，需要光催化等绿色技术。光催化是一种太阳能驱动的方法，将光子能转化为化学能，但经典光催化的转化效率通常受到电荷载流子的分离和迁移的限制和控制。增强的转化需要抑制的重组率和卓越的氧化还原能力。从这个方面来看，异质结的操纵可以克服经典光催化的缺点。级联机制遵循双重直接电荷迁移路线，从而增强了氧化还原能力和污染物的有效矿化。在这里，我们回顾了通过级联电荷转移提高氧化还原能力的光催化材料方面。我们描述了三个级联系统的机制和应用：两个 II 型级联系统、基于介体的级联系统和双直接 Z 方案。我们强调了直接双级联路线的优势，它具有更长的载流子寿命、更高的量子产率和增强的氧化还原能力。讨论了在二氧化碳减少、水分解制氢和污染物降解方面的应用。