Abstract: A photoactive material including nanoparticles of photoactive first and second constituents. The first and second constituents have respective conduction band energies, valence band energies and electronic band gap energies to enable photon-driven generation and separation of charge carriers in each of the first and second constituents by absorption of light in the solar spectrum. The first and second constituents are provided in an alternating layered arrangement of respective first and second layers or are mixed together in a single layer. The nanoparticles have diameters smaller than wavelengths of light in the solar spectrum, to provide optical transparency for absorption of light. The charge carriers, upon photoactivation, are able to participate in redox reactions occurring in the photoactive material. The photoactive material may enable redox reactions of carbon dioxide with at least one of hydrogen and water to produce a fuel.