Single-Atom-Based Catalysts for Photocatalytic Water Splitting on TiO2 Nanostructures

Abstract

H2 generation from photocatalytic water splitting is one of the most promising approaches to producing cost-effective and sustainable fuel. Nanostructured TiO2 is a highly stable and efficient semiconductor photocatalyst for this purpose. The main drawback of TiO2 as a photocatalyst is the sluggish charge transfer on the surface of TiO2 that can be tackled to a great extent by the use of platinum group materials (PGM) as co-catalysts. However, the scarcity and high cost of the PGMs is one of the issues that prevent the widespread use of TiO2/PGM systems for photocatalytic H2 generation. Single-atom catalysts which are currently the frontline in the catalysis field can be a favorable path to overcome the scarcity and further advance the use of noble metals. More importantly, single-atom (SA) catalysts simultaneously have the advantage of homogenous and heterogeneous catalysts. This mini-review specifically focuses on the single atom decoration of TiO2 nanostructures for photocatalytic water splitting. The latest progress in fabrication, characterization, and application of single-atoms in photocatalytic H2 generation on TiO2 is reviewed.

Catalyzing Sustainable Water Splitting with Single Atom Catalysts: Recent Advances

“…[215] Most of the oxide based support and catalysts have been thoroughly investigated in relation to photocatalytic water splitting, including well-known materials like TiO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 . [216][217][218][219][220] However, their electrocatalytic water splitting potential is still mostly unrealized. The gap between these two areas of water splitting research must be closed to fully use the electrocatalytic properties of these oxide supports for effective hydrogen generation.…”

“…Most of the oxide based support and catalysts have been thoroughly investigated in relation to photocatalytic water splitting, including well‐known materials like TiO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 [216–220] . However, their electrocatalytic water splitting potential is still mostly unrealized.…”

Fabrication and characterization of g-C3N4 supported Cu-single atom catalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes

“…This bonding and interaction affect the efficiency and stability of the catalysts. 7 The popular approaches for increasing the stabilization of single-atom catalysts also include the reduction in mobility of single atoms by their confinement into a limited space.…”