New materials for water-splitting

Abstract Production of hydrogen through water-splitting under solar rays is extensively favored as a promising process to produce clean chemical fuels, provide renewable energy sources, and reduce the influence of global warming and environmental issues. Although notable efforts have been made to develop advanced materials, the main challenge remaining is lower efficiency and selectivity for H2 evolution under solar energy. Solar-driven catalysis on semiconductors has improved via new materials and synthesis methods. In this chapter, the developments in designing and constructing low-cost materials and photocatalysts and the effective parameters to enhance conversion of solar to hydrogen performance are investigated. The parameters including temperature, pH, light intensity, and morphology and bandgap of catalysts are discussed here. The advances in fabrication of systems with more light distribution and surface contact with the catalyst are gathered here. By applying optimum operating parameters and a novel approach, more efficiency for H2 production can be achieved.