Semiconductor　photocatalysts　are　extensively　applied　in　environmental　treatment　and　energy　conversion.　However,　one　of　their　major　disadvantages　is　their　relatively　low　photocatalytic　performance　owing　to　the　recombination　of　generated　electron-hole　pairs.　The　presence　of　the　phase　junction　is　an　effective　way　to　promote　the　photocatalytic　activity　by　increasing　the　separation　efficiency　of　the　electron-hole　pairs.　Accordingly,　extensive　research　has　been　conducted　on　the　design　of　phase　junctions　of　photocatalysts　to　improve　their　charge　transfer　properties　and　efficiencies.　Therefore,　for　the　design　of　an　appropriate　phase　junction　and　the　understanding　of　the　mechanism　of　electron-hole　separation,　the　development　of　the　photocatalytic　phase　junction,　including　the　preparation　methods　of　the　heterogeneous　materials,　is　tremendously　important　and　helpful.　Herein,　the　commonly　used,　externally　induced　phase　transformation　fabrication　techniques　and　the　primary　components　of　the　semiconductors　are　reviewed.　Future　directions　will　still　focus　on　the　design　and　optimization　of　the　phase　junction　of　photocatalytic　materials　according　to　the　phase　transition　with　higher　efficiencies　for　broadband　responses　and　solar　energy　utilization.　Additionally,　the　most　popular　phase　transformation　fabrication　techniques　of　phase　junctions　are　briefly　reviewed　from　the　application　viewpoint.　(C)　2019,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.