Photoinduced　charge　separation　and　transfer　have　been　deemed　the　core　factors　affecting　the　efficiency　of　photoelectrocatalysis;　precisely　modulating　the　spatial　migration　of　photo-induced　charge　carriers　to　the　ideal　reaction　sites　is　of　paramount　importance　for　boosting　the　solar　conversion　efficiency　of　photoelectrochemical　(PEC)　cells.　In　this　work,　a　combinatorial　strategy　has　been　developed　to　progressively　construct　highly　efficient　charge　transport　channels　on　the　quintessential　electrochemically　anodized　one-dimensional　semiconductor　framework　(TiO　2　nanotube　arrays,　TNTAs)　by　in　situ　annealing-induced　intrinsic　ultrathin　carbon　encapsulation.　Antimony　sulfide　(Sb　2　S　3　)　nanocrystals　were　subsequently　attached　to　the　interior　and　exterior　surfaces　of　the　carbon-encapsulated　TNTA　(C-TNTA)　substrate　forming　a　well-defined　ternary　photoanode　(C-Sb　2　S　3　-TNTA)　capable　of　triggering　smooth　and　cascade　electron　transfer.　Cooperativity　stemming　from　intrinsic　carbon　encapsulation　on　the　surface　for　fast　electron　transport　in　conjunction　with　Sb　2　S　3　photosensitization　for　substantial　visible　light　harvesting　endows　the　C-Sb　2　S　3　-TNTA　heterostructure　with　markedly　enhanced　solar-powered　PEC　water　dissociation　performances,　conspicuously　exceeding　its　single　and　binary　counterparts.　Furthermore,　a　hole　transport　pathway　was　further　constructed　by　site-selective　incorporation　of　an　oxygen　evolving　catalyst　(Co-Pi)　in　the　ternary　system　via　a　photo-assisted　electrodeposition　or　electrodeposition　approach,　which　contributes　to　more　enhanced　separation　efficiency　and　prolonged　lifetime　of　photo-induced　charge　carriers　together　with　improved　photostability.　It　is　expected　that　our　work　would　afford　a　new　frontier　to　intelligently　mediate　the　spatial　directional　flow　of　photogenerated　charge　carriers　and　rationally　construct　efficient　charge　transport　channels　on　the　semiconductor-based　photoelectrodes　for　high-efficiency　solar　energy　harvesting　and　conversion.　©　2019　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.