Water Splitting By Photocatalytic Reduction

Abstract

Water splitting by photocatalytic reduction is considered to be one of the most promising solutions to solve both the worldwide energy shortage and environmental pollution problems. Metal sulfide semiconductor photocatalysts as an important kind of photocatalysts have gained extensive interest in the field of photocatalytic H 2 evolution due to their superior photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. This chapter summarizes the integration and optimization of highly efficient metal sulfide-based semiconductors from a system engineering perspective. To achieve the optimum efficiency, several typical system integration strategies such as loading co-catalysts onto nanoscale metal sulfides, forming doped or nanosized solid solutions, developing core/shell and intercalated semiconductors, fabricating hybrid or multijunction photocatalysts, and exploring new mechanisms beyond heterojunctions are outlined and discussed in detail. Further research should focus on the investigation of mechanism, the development of highly efficient co-catalysts and semiconductors, as well as the construction of multi-junction photocatalysts with high H 2 -evolution activity. In this chapter, we not only provide a summary of system integration strategies of metal sulfides for solar water splitting but also may provide some potential opportunities for designing other types of heterogeneous photocatalysts used in solar water splitting.

Enhancing photocatalytic performance of TiO2 in H2 evolution via Ru co-catalyst deposition

“…One of the most interesting processes is the photo-water-splitting which is as a clean and renewable way to produce hydrogen using solar energy. [5,[12][13][14][15] It has, however, some limitation. The overall water splitting reaction is an uphill reaction with a large positive change in Gibbs free energy.…”

CO Preferential Photo-Oxidation in Excess of Hydrogen in Dark and Simulated Solar Light Irradiation over AuCu-Based Catalysts on SBA-15 Mesoporous Silica-Titania

“…Nowadays, photocatalysis research can be broadly classified into two categories: energy and environment; the latter being extensively studied for pollutant degradation and environmental remediation of water and air, inasmuch as these reactions can be accomplished at mild operating conditions and can be solar driven [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. A recent book [ 6 ] has highlighted the current developments and future potential of the green-chemistry-oriented applications of various inorganic, organic, and hybrid photocatalysts and their importance in a broad spectrum of catalytic processes such as photocatalytic CO 2 reduction [ 7 ], photocatalytic water oxidation [ 8 ], heteropolyacid-based heterogeneous photocatalysts for environmental application [ 9 ], photocatalysts based on 1D TiO 2 nanotubes [ 10 ], water-splitting by photocatalytic reduction [ 11 ] and solar–chemical energy conversion by photocatalysis [ 12 ].…”