Yolk-Shell Nanostructures: Charge Transfer and Photocatalysis

With the urgent requirement for alternative sustainable energy sources, photocatalysts have become competitive candidates. Nevertheless, the main dilemma at present for such a technology is insufficient efficiency. Therefore, many heterostructures have been proposed to improve photocatalytic efficiency. The yolk-shell nanostructure has received much attention owing to numerous advantages, which include a large surface area, efficient photon absorption, and enhanced charge separation as a result of band alignment at the interface. This chapter will briefly introduce the synthetic strategies used for fabricating yolk-shell nanostructures and their applications in technologically important photocatalytic fields, including dye degradation, decomposition of toxics, carbon dioxide reduction, hydrogen production, oxygen production, and fine chemical synthesis. Finally, a summary is provided capsuling the future prospects for the utility of yolk-shell nanostructures as photocatalysts.