Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel
Nanomaterials have attracted attention for application in photocatalytic hydrogen production because of their beneficial properties such as high specific surface area, attractive morphology, and high light absorption. Furthermore, hydrogen is a clean and green source of energy that may help to resol...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/546 |
| _version_ | 1827759684602298368 |
|---|---|
| author | Muhammad Mohsin Tehmeena Ishaq Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti Maryam Asim Jilani Ammar A. Melaibari Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh |
| author_facet | Muhammad Mohsin Tehmeena Ishaq Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti Maryam Asim Jilani Ammar A. Melaibari Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh |
| author_sort | Muhammad Mohsin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanomaterials have attracted attention for application in photocatalytic hydrogen production because of their beneficial properties such as high specific surface area, attractive morphology, and high light absorption. Furthermore, hydrogen is a clean and green source of energy that may help to resolve the existing energy crisis and increasing environmental pollution caused by the consumption of fossil fuels. Among various hydrogen production methods, photocatalytic water splitting is most significant because it utilizes solar light, a freely available energy source throughout the world, activated via semiconductor nanomaterial catalysts. Various types of photocatalysts are developed for this purpose, including carbon-based and transition-metal-based photocatalysts, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The present review highlights the basic principle of water splitting and various techniques such as the thermochemical process, electrocatalytic process, and direct solar water splitting to enhance hydrogen production. Moreover, modification strategies such as band gap engineering, semiconductor alloys, and multiphoton photocatalysts have been reviewed. Furthermore, the Z- and S-schemes of heterojunction photocatalysts for water splitting were also reviewed. Ultimately, the strategies for developing efficient, practical, highly efficient, and novel visible-light-harvesting photocatalysts will be discussed, in addition to the challenges that are involved. This review can provide researchers with a reference for the current state of affairs, and may motivate them to develop new materials for hydrogen generation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:31:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45abe9f34bdb44bc9c28688379991c11 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:31:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-45abe9f34bdb44bc9c28688379991c112023-11-16T17:36:21ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-01-0113354610.3390/nano13030546Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to FuelMuhammad Mohsin0Tehmeena Ishaq1Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti2Maryam3Asim Jilani4Ammar A. Melaibari5Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh6Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, PakistanCenter of Nanotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaCenter of Nanotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi ArabiaNanomaterials have attracted attention for application in photocatalytic hydrogen production because of their beneficial properties such as high specific surface area, attractive morphology, and high light absorption. Furthermore, hydrogen is a clean and green source of energy that may help to resolve the existing energy crisis and increasing environmental pollution caused by the consumption of fossil fuels. Among various hydrogen production methods, photocatalytic water splitting is most significant because it utilizes solar light, a freely available energy source throughout the world, activated via semiconductor nanomaterial catalysts. Various types of photocatalysts are developed for this purpose, including carbon-based and transition-metal-based photocatalysts, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The present review highlights the basic principle of water splitting and various techniques such as the thermochemical process, electrocatalytic process, and direct solar water splitting to enhance hydrogen production. Moreover, modification strategies such as band gap engineering, semiconductor alloys, and multiphoton photocatalysts have been reviewed. Furthermore, the Z- and S-schemes of heterojunction photocatalysts for water splitting were also reviewed. Ultimately, the strategies for developing efficient, practical, highly efficient, and novel visible-light-harvesting photocatalysts will be discussed, in addition to the challenges that are involved. This review can provide researchers with a reference for the current state of affairs, and may motivate them to develop new materials for hydrogen generation.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/546nanomaterialhydrogen productionwater splittingsemiconductor materialsphotocatalysisgreen source |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Mohsin Tehmeena Ishaq Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti Maryam Asim Jilani Ammar A. Melaibari Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel Nanomaterials nanomaterial hydrogen production water splitting semiconductor materials photocatalysis green source |
| title | Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel |
| title_full | Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel |
| title_fullStr | Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel |
| title_short | Semiconductor Nanomaterial Photocatalysts for Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production: The Holy Grail of Converting Solar Energy to Fuel |
| title_sort | semiconductor nanomaterial photocatalysts for water splitting hydrogen production the holy grail of converting solar energy to fuel |
| topic | nanomaterial hydrogen production water splitting semiconductor materials photocatalysis green source |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/3/546 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammadmohsin semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel AT tehmeenaishaq semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel AT ijazahmadbhatti semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel AT maryam semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel AT asimjilani semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel AT ammaramelaibari semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel AT nidalhabuhamdeh semiconductornanomaterialphotocatalystsforwatersplittinghydrogenproductiontheholygrailofconvertingsolarenergytofuel |