title: Photocatalytic Water Splitting-The Untamed Dream: A Review of Recent Advances.
abstract: Photocatalytic water splitting using sunlight is a promising technology capable of providing high energy yield without pollutant byproducts. Herein, we review various aspects of this technology including chemical reactions, physiochemical conditions and photocatalyst types such as metal oxides, sulfides, nitrides, nanocomposites, and doped materials followed by recent advances in computational modeling of photoactive materials. As the best-known catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution, TiO₂ is discussed in a separate section, along with its challenges such as the wide band gap, large overpotential for hydrogen evolution, and rapid recombination of produced electron-hole pairs. Various approaches are addressed to overcome these shortcomings, such as doping with different elements, heterojunction catalysts, noble metal deposition, and surface modification. Development of a photocatalytic corrosion resistant, visible light absorbing, defect-tuned material with small particle size is the key to complete the sunlight to hydrogen cycle efficiently. Computational studies have opened new avenues to understand and predict the electronic density of states and band structure of advanced materials and could pave the way for the rational design of efficient photocatalysts for water splitting. Future directions are focused on developing innovative junction architectures, novel synthesis methods and optimizing the existing active materials to enhance charge transfer, visible light absorption, reducing the gas evolution overpotential and maintaining chemical and physical stability.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3222, USA. tahereh.jafari@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3222, USA. ehsan.moharreri@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moharreri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. alireza.shirazi_amin@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Alireza Shirazi
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. ran.miao@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. wenqiao.song@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Wenqiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3222, USA. steven.suib@uconn.edu.|Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3060, USA. steven.suib@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Suib
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D010777:Photochemistry; D012666:Semiconductors; D012993:Solar Energy; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014867:Water; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: hydrogen; metal oxides; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; photocatalysis; photocatalysts; semiconductors; solar fuels; water splitting