Efforts to replace platinum-group photocatalysts with more sustainable photoactive molecules and materials have shown promising results (Fig. ). Nevertheless, a general strategy for systematically tuning the photophysical properties and redox windows of alternative photocatalysts remains challenging. For instance, modifying the photochemical property of organic dyes (xanthenes, acridiniums, cyanoarenes, etc.) typically necessitates additional and often tedious synthetic steps (ref 5 . Polyoxometalate anion (TBADT: (nBu4N)4[W10O32]) lacks chemical handle for structural modification . While quantum dots (QDs) and lead halide perovskites allow facile tuning of optical gaps (ref , their poor chemical stability, especially in the presence of acids or protic solvents, limits their wider application. Carbon dots (CDs) (ref , a metal-free counterpart of QDs, composed of the most abundant and inexpensive element possible for material design, offer exceptional photoluminescence properties, chemical stability, and readily tunable optical gaps. However, their potential as catalysts in organic photosynthesis remains largely unexplored.