Theory 04/Ultrafast/Photocatalysis
Efficiency Is Lifetime Against Reaction
The claim
Photocatalytic efficiency is set by the ratio of carrier lifetime to surface reaction time, so a fast reaction on a short-lived carrier beats a slow reaction on a long-lived one only above the ratio.
01Mechanism
A carrier must reach the surface and react before it recombines; the ratio determines how many do.
02Prediction
Efficiency should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Efficiency tracking lifetime alone would remove reaction rate.