Heterogeneous photocatalysis based on semiconductor photocatalyst powders is a facile and low-cost route to convert solar energy into chemical fuels and high active radicals.The photocatalytic efficiency (apparent kinetic rate), visible light response, photocatalytic stability and solar-reactor for large-scale application are the main challenges and motivates for designing novel photocatalysts and promoting the application of these photocatalysts in solar fuels and environmental cleaning.Here, we show the progress in designing novel photocatalyst based on graphene and graphitic carbon nitride.The first example is the design of adding new functional component to oxide semiconductor photocatalyst to improve the photocatalytic efficiency.The reduced graphene oxide as a capture component was attached on the surface of TiO2.This capture function of graphene dramatically improved the photocatalytic oxidation efficiency (apparent kinetic rate) for organic dyes in water.The second one is a simple route for the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride based on a cheap and easily accessible molecular precursor to obtain visible light activated photocatalyst on large scale.The stable photocatalytic reduction of water to produce hydrogen and stable photocatalytic oxidation (degradation) of organic dyes in water under visible light irradiation were demonstrated for this metalfree photocatalyst.The last one is a brief introduction of our recent progress in developing solar reactors for large scale application of the photocatalysis technology.