Is It Real Type-II or S-Scheme? A Three-Phase Diagnostic Protocol for Identifying Potentially Mislabeled Heterojunction Photocatalysts

초록

The absence of standardized diagnostic protocols has fostered widespread mechanistic uncertainty in heterojunction photocatalysis, with numerous Type-II claims lacking conclusive interfacial and kinetic evidence. In response, I propose a three-phase, seven-step diagnostic framework structured as an evidence hierarchy: Phase I (Steps 1–3) establishes foundational band alignment, Phase II (Steps 4–5) probes the interfacial electronic structure, and Phase III (Steps 6–7) validates dynamic charge-transfer pathways. An evaluation of 30 purported Type-II systems reveals a critical validation gap: only 3.3% (1/30) achieves full validation, leaving 10.0% (3/30) characterized as thermodynamic paradoxes (electrical sign-reversals) and 86.7% (26/30) in a pervasive evidence vacuum (stalling at foundational alignment). This protocol is offered as a diagnostic tool to help the field move from heuristic assignment toward more evidence-based rational design of photocatalysts.

키워드