One-dimensional nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires, present a fascinating platform for manipulating the behaviors of photo-generated electrons and provide excellent opportunities for developing novel devices of unprecedented functionality. In this talk, explorations to control photoconductivity in carbon nanotubes (CNT) and CNT-TiO2 core-shell nanowires will be presented. We show CNTs can be highly competitive to conventional materials for uncooled Infrared detection with superior detectivity and response time. The CNT-TiO2 core-shell nanowires, on the other hand, are promising for nanostructured photovoltaic devices as high-efficient charge passway.