Abstract
This invention provides a technology in which dye molecules, organic molecules, inorganic molecules (such as nanometer sized quantum dots including CdS, CdSe, CdTe, PbS, etc, for example), or polymers were absorbed or attached onto the surfaces of semiconductors (such as, TiO2、 ZnO、 Fe2O3、 CuO、 Al2O3、 CrO3、 GaP、 WoO3、 MoO3) or metal oxides. The material(s) on these surfaces absorb ultraviolet or visible or near infrared light, to obtain photon energy and to excite electrons, thereby to transfer either energy or electrons to the semiconductors/ metal oxides, leading to various photo-induced functions (such as, photo-catalysis, photoelectrochromism, etc). The semiconductors and/or metal oxides can be in the forms of nanoparticles, thin films or in tubular structure, or their combinations.