Photo-Semiconductor Catalysts for Water Splitting

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting by means of sunlight appear for an eco-friendly and capable technology. Semiconductor electrode materials as the chief components in PEC water splitting cells have vital impacts on the device’s solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, energy failure related to rapid recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs, as well as electrode deprivation, various kinds of electrocatalysts for improving PEC water splitting. Semiconductor oxide photocathode and photoanode (TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, WO₃, BiVO_4, InGaAsP and PtNP’s-Si) have been occupied for makeup PEC devices to oxidize water and generate molecular oxygen and hydrogen. Advancement on various kinds of both photoelectrode and electrocatalytic nanomaterials is reviewed.

Keywords: photoelectrochemical (PEC), photo-semiconductor, water splitting, photoelectrode, electrocatalytic nonomaterials