Issue 18, 2021

Photocatalytic water splitting: advantages and challenges

Abstract

Over the last decades, an increasing interest has been devoted to the generation of hydrogen from solar-powered water splitting devices as a direct approach to generate a clean and sustainable energy vector. Among the different alternatives, a direct photocatalytic process is the most straightforward, where a light absorber is able to produce hydrogen and oxygen under light irradiation without an external bias. Herein, we discuss the main pros and cons of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production, aiming to offer a clear vision of the critical challenges that need to be overcome for these reactions to become a major player in the generation of solar fuels. The main parameters limiting solar-to-hydrogen yields and efficiencies, and the requirements for the descriptors of materials and components are introduced. We also describe the most promising semiconductors and material composites, highlighting their main features, along with future trends to improve photocatalytic stability, efficiency, and kinetics. Thus, our critical perspective grows from the state-of-the-art to focus on the future and viability of photocatalytic solar hydrogen.

Graphical abstract: Photocatalytic water splitting: advantages and challenges

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
27 5月 2021
Accepted
12 8月 2021
First published
12 8月 2021

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2021,5, 4560-4569

Photocatalytic water splitting: advantages and challenges

K. Villa, J. R. Galán-Mascarós, N. López and E. Palomares, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2021, 5, 4560 DOI: 10.1039/D1SE00808K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements