Recent advances in visible light-driven water oxidation and reduction in suspension systems

Dan Kong,Yiou Wang,Xinchen Wang,Yun Zheng,Marcin Kobielusz,Wojciech Macyk,Junwang Tang,Zhiming Bai

doi:10.1016/j.mattod.2018.04.009

Abstract

Abstract In order to solve the shortage of sustainable energy and the related concern about combustion of fossil fuels, converting the most abundant solar energy into chemical fuels becomes one of the most promising choices to provide the everlasting and environmentally friendly energy vector along with the minimum impact on environment. Among the methods of converting solar energy into chemical fuels, there is a significant interest in the renewable hydrogen production by photocatalysts from abundant water under visible light irradiation. Therefore, the development of efficient photocatalysts for water reduction and oxidation in a suspension system is the footstone for the development of solar energy conversion. In this review, the fundamental theory of photocatalysis and key factors affecting photocatalysis will be introduced first. Then the new materials development covering inorganic materials (oxides, nitrides and sulfides), carbon-based photocatalysts, and semiconductor-coordination compound photocatalysts developed over the past 10 years will be addressed with discussion about dominating factors in the photochemical process. This review would provide a comprehensive reference to exploring the efficient and novel materials working for the solar energy conversion to affordable and sustainable fuels. Finally, the perspective of the technology is also discussed.

Highlights

With the concern of sustainable supply of natural gas, oil, and coal and more importantly the severe environmental issues caused by the combustion of the fossil fuels, it is very urgent for the society to discover alternative sources of energy which are sustainable, clean, and abundant [1,2]
Photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen production based on solardriven water splitting in a suspension system is
light-driven water splitting systems have a great potential to boost the photocatalyst efficiency to approach the industrial application at large scale

Summary

Introduction

With the concern of sustainable supply of natural gas, oil, and coal and more importantly the severe environmental issues caused by the combustion of the fossil fuels, it is very urgent for the society to discover alternative sources of energy which are sustainable, clean, and abundant [1,2].

Results

Conclusion