13 - Application of carbon-based smart nanocomposites for hydrogen production: current progress, challenges, and prospects

Abstract

The combustion of fossil fuels has led to major environmental problems such as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and ozone layer depletion. This chapter provides information on carbon-based materials and smart nanocomposites based on carbons and its components. Additionally the utilization of carbon materials and their nanocomposites for H2 production is discussed. Primary energy sources for generation of hydrogen are thermal, electrical, photonic, and biochemical. However, all the hydrogen production methods are not ecofriendly but photonic methods such as photocatalysis, photoelectrochemical, and artificial photosynthesis are more environmentally benign in case of greenhouse gas emissions. However, carbon-based nanocomposites are becoming the topic of interest owing to their properties such as the small size and physicochemical properties are reported. Carbon nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube, graphene, carbon nanofiber, carbon quantum dots, and fullerene are of scientific and technological interest in photocatalysis for hydrogen production are also reported. This chapter focuses on different methods for hydrogen production, use of carbon in hydrogen production, especially carbon nanocomposites and their applications along with the recent progress, challenges, and future possibilities.