Photocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS) in a stoichiometric ratio has attracted increasing attention for the realization of a sustainable, environmentally friendly future. However, this reaction exhibits sluggish kinetics due to efficiency limitations of the involved steps, including photon absorption, electron transfer, and the reactions that occur at triple-phase boundary regions. Herein, we report a general multiscale strategy to address this challenge by designing a model composite catalyst with a high loading density of isolated Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 nanocrystals, as building blocks, dispersed in a hexagonally ordered mesoporous silica matrix. In contrast to the well-recognized heterojunction formed between different semiconductors, we show that confined growth favours the formation of isolated quaternary solid-solution photocatalysts (Bi0.5Y0.5VO4), which can further interface with the insulating silica to overcome temperature limitations and exhibit enhanced photon absorption and electrochemical and mass transfer properties due to the transparent periodic porous structure of silica and the as-formed small nanocrystals with high crystallinity and a passivated surface. When the semiconductor photocatalyst is incorporated with the inert silica insulator, this nanoarchitecture does not inhibit the OWS activity but actually delivers a 10-fold higher OWS activity than bulk Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 prepared by the conventional solid-state method. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.