Hydrogen (H2) production via photocatalytic water splitting is one of the most promising technologies for clean solar energy conversion to emerge in recent decades. The achievement of energy production from water splitting would mean that we could use water as a fuel for future energy need. Among the various photocatalytic materials, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the dominant and most widely studied because of its exceptional physico-chemical characteristics. Surface decoration of metal/non-metal on TiO2 nanoparticles is an outstanding technique to revamp its electronic properties and enrich the H2 production efficiency. Metal dopants play a vital role in separation of electron-hole pairs on the TiO2 surface during UV/visible/simulated solar light irradiation. In this paper, the basic principles, photocatalytic-reactor design, kinetics, key findings, and the mechanism of metal-doped TiO2 are comprehensively reviewed. We found that Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model is commonly employed by the researchers to demonstrate the rate of H2 production. Copper (Cu), gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) are the most widely studied dopants for TiO2, owing to their superior work function. The metal dopants can amplify the H2 production efficiency of TiO2 through Schottky barrier formation, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), generation of gap states by interaction with TiO2 VB states. The recent advances and important consequences of 2D materials, perovskites, and other novel photocatalysts for H2 generation have also been reviewed.

Photocatalytic hydrogen production using metal doped TiO2: A review of recent advances

The use of solar energy to catalyze the photo-driven processes has attracted tremendous attention from the scientific community because of its great potential to address energy and environmental is...

Perovskite Oxide Based Materials for Energy and Environment-Oriented Photocatalysis

Artificial Z-scheme photocatalytic system: What have been done and where to go?

Recently, CdS has been intensively investigated for its excellent photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution property. However, the poor stability and serious photocorrosion severely influence its potential for practical application. In this work, we successfully synthesized Bi surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-promoted Z-scheme Bi2MoO6 nanosheet/CdS-diethylenetriamine (Bi–Bi2MoO6/CdS-DETA) composites via an in situ solvothermal method. Crystalline structure, morphology, electrochemical properties, along with the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity and stability, have been systematically investigated. The as-prepared Bi–Bi2MoO6/CdS-DETA composites with optimized structure exhibited advanced photocatalytic H2 evolution activity (reach to 7.37 mmol h–1 g–1) and high stability. Largely exposed active sites, effective Z-scheme charge separation and Bi metal SPR effect of the two-dimension (2D) heterostructure is contributed to improve H2 generation performance of Bi–Bi2MoO6/CdS-DETA composites. This work provides ...

Bi SPR-Promoted Z-Scheme Bi2MoO6/CdS-Diethylenetriamine Composite with Effectively Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity and Stability

Ni-based photocatalytic H2-production cocatalysts2

Cr/Ta co-doped SrTiO 3 (STO:Cr/Ta) photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity for water splitting under visible light have been synthesized by a polymerizable complex (PC) method. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) showed that the Cr/Ta co-doping extended the absorption edge of STO to visible light region at the wavelength of 540 nm. Calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) indicated that, after doping, Cr 3d and O 2p orbits formed new impurity states within the forbidden gap of STO and facilitated the excitation of photons with low energy, as the Ta was mainly used to restrain the appearance of undesired Cr 6+ . The photoelectrochemical measurements and XRD, SEM, BET analysis revealed that the excellent photocatalytic performance of photocatalyst prepared by a PC method was attributed to the high crystalline quality as well as relative large specific surface area. The photocatalytic activity of STO: (1% Cr/Ta) for H 2 evolution prepared by a PC method is 10 times higher than that of the sample prepared by a solid state reaction (SSR) method. The Pt/STO: (2% Cr/Ta) calcined at 1100 °C possessed the highest photocatalyitc activity for water splitting under visible light, thereby producing the average rate of H 2 evolution of 122.6 μmol h −1 (ca. 2.6% AYQ) measured at λ = 420 nm. Also, under a Z-scheme system, the Pt/STO: (2% Cr/Ta) exhibited AQY as high as 1.52% at λ = 420 nm for overall water splitting while Pt/WO 3 acting as an O 2 evolution photocatalyst.

Polymerizable complex synthesis of SrTiO3:(Cr/Ta) photocatalysts to improve photocatalytic water splitting activity under visible light

Effect of Pt–Pd hybrid nano-particle on CdS's activity for water splitting under visible light

Ultrathin metal materials exhibit quantum size and surface effects that give rise to unique catalytic properties. In this paper, we report a facile liquid synthesis method for polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, K30) capped ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets with lamellar structure. The as-prepared ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets coupled with CdS nanorods exhibit excellent activity in hydrogen generation from water splitting under visible light. The H2 evolution rate of Ni(OH)2/CdS, 40.18 mmol h−1 gCat.−1 with a quantum efficiency of 66.1% at 420 nm, is ca. 1.5 times that of Pt/CdS with an optimal loading amount (1.25 wt%) under the same reaction conditions. Considering the cost of photocatalysts, the ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheet coupled CdS photocatalyst may have a promising commercial application in photocatalytic hydrogen production.

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Ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets: a new strategy for cocatalyst design on CdS surfaces for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Pt-Ru bi-metal co-catalyst: Preparation, characterization and its effect on CdS’s activity for water splitting under visible light

Solar photocatalytic water splitting for the production of hydrogen has been a core aspect for decades A highly active and durable photocatalyst is crucial for the success of the renewable hydrogen economy To date, the development of highly effective photocatalysts has been seen by the contemporary research community as a grand challenge Thus, herein we put forward a sincere attempt to use a Pt–Nix alloy nanoparticle (NP) cocatalyst loaded CdS photocatalyst ((Pt–Nix)/CdS) for photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light The Pt–Nix alloy NP cocatalyst was synthesized using a one-pot solvothermal method The cocatalyst nanoparticles were deposited onto the surface of CdS, forming a Pt–Nix/CdS photocatalyst Photocatalytic hydrogen production was carried out using a 300 W Xe light equipped with a 420 nm cut-off filter The H2 evolution rate of the Pt–Ni3/CdS photocatalyst can reach a value as high as 4896 mmol h−1 g−1 catalyst, with a quantum efficiency of 440% at 420 nm The experimental results indicate that this Pt–Ni3/CdS photocatalyst is a prospective candidate for solar hydrogen generation from water-splitting

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Heng Liu

Papers

Polymerizable complex synthesis of SrTiO3:(Cr/Ta) photocatalysts to improve photocatalytic water splitting activity under visible light

Effect of Pt–Pd hybrid nano-particle on CdS's activity for water splitting under visible light

Ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets: a new strategy for cocatalyst design on CdS surfaces for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Pt-Ru bi-metal co-catalyst: Preparation, characterization and its effect on CdS’s activity for water splitting under visible light

Pt─Nix alloy nanoparticles: a new strategy for cocatalyst design on a CdS surface for photo-catalytic hydrogen generation