Solar‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution from Value‐Added Waste Treatment

Abstract

Hydrogen is one of the most important energy alternatives to conventional fossil‐based fuel. Solar energy based photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) is a salient approach to produce hydrogen fuel but its efficiency is generally limited by the sluggish and energy‐unfavorable oxidation reaction. Meanwhile, waste treatment has become a worldwide problem and clean treatment is highly demanded to avoid the vast greenhouse emission currently. Inspiringly, PHE can be effectively coupled with the favorable photooxidation of many wastes, which kills two birds with one stone. In this review, the recent progress in PHE coupled with waste treatment is presented, where typical solid, liquid, and gas wastes have been briefly discussed. Focusing on the understanding of complicated reaction mechanism and the revelation of oxidation products, the cutting‐edge techniques for photophysics and surface chemistry characterization have been analyzed, which are imperative to facilitate the following investigation. Finally, the developing trend and existing issues in current research are also discussed in detail so that a holistic blueprint of PHE coupled with waste treatment can be portrayed to accelerate their application in a realistic world.