Nanostructured materials for photocatalytic hydrogen production
Journal article, 2009
Photocatalytic hydrogen (H-2) production represents a very promising but challenging contribution to a clean, sustainable and renewable energy system. The photocatalyst material plays a key role in photocatalytic H-2 production, and it has proven difficult to obtain corrosion resistant, chemically stable, visible light harvesting and highly efficient photocatalysts, which have their band edges matching the O-2 and H-2 production levels. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are opening a new vista in the development of highly active, nanostructured photocatalysts with large surface areas for optimized light absorption, minimized distances (or times) for charge-carrier transport, and further favorable properties. Our focus here is on recently developed nanostructured photocatalysts. In particular. the particle size, chemical composition (including dopants), microstructure, crystal phase. morphology, surface modification, bandgap and flat-band potential of the nanophotocatalysts have shown a visible effect on photocatalytic H-2 production rates, which may be further increased by adding sensitizers, cocatalysts or scavengers. Finally, potential directions required to push this research field a step further are highlighted. (
H-2
titanium-oxide
shuttle redox mediator
Nanostructured materials
activity tio2
Nanomaterials
h-2 evolution
z-scheme
Photocaralysis
surfactant template
TiO2
calcium niobate
Light harvesting
sol-gel process
Water splitting
aqueous-methanol solution
Hydrogen
Semiconductor
Solar light
Visible light
Photocatalyst
visible-light irradiation
Author
Jiefang Zhu
Chalmers, Applied Physics, Chemical Physics
Michael Zäch
Chalmers
Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science
1359-0294 (ISSN) 18790399 (eISSN)
Vol. 14 4 260-269Subject Categories
Physical Chemistry
DOI
10.1016/j.cocis.2009.05.003