Photovoltaic-Assisted Photo(electro)catalytic Hydrogen Production: A Review

Abstract

The idea of supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has inspired researchers around the world to explore more environmentally friendly energy generation and production methods, especially those related to solar and hydrogen energy. Among the various available sustainable energy technologies, photo(electro)catalytic hydrogen production has been competitively explored, benefiting from its versatile platform to utilize solar energy for green hydrogen production. Nevertheless, the bottleneck of this photo(electro)catalytic system lies within its high voltage required for water electrolysis (>1.23 V), which affects the economic prospects of this sustainable technology. In this regard, coupling the photo(electro)catalytic system with a solar-powered photovoltaic (PV) system (PV-PEC) to unleash the fascinating properties and readiness of this system has heightened attention among the scientific community. In this context, this review begins by elucidating the basic principles of PV-PEC systems, followed by an exploration of various types of solar PV technology and the different types of semiconductors used as photocatalysts in the PEC system. Subsequently, the main challenges faced by the PV-PEC system are presented, covering areas such as efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, this review delves into recent research related to PV-PEC systems, discussing the advancements and breakthroughs in this promising technology. Furthermore, this review provides a forecast for the future prospects of the PV-PEC system, highlighting the potential for its continued development and widespread implementation as a key player in sustainable hydrogen production.