<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> One of the main requirements for a future Hydrogen Economy is a clean and efficient process for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier because of its high energy content and clean combustion. In particular, the production of hydrogen from water and solar energy, i.e., photocatalysis and photoelectrolysis, represent methods for both renewable and sustainable energy production. Here, we will present the principles of photocatalysis and the PhotoElectroChemical cell (PEC cell) for water splitting, along with functional materials. Defect chemical aspects will be high-lighted. To date, the decreasing length scale to the nanoscale of the functional materials attracts widespread attention. The nanostructure is beneficial in case diffusion lengths of the photo-generated charge carriers are substantially different.</p></abstract>

One of the main requirements for a future Hydrogen Economy is a clean and efficient process for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier because of its high energy content and clean combustion. In particular, the production of hydrogen from water and solar energy, i.e., photocatalysis and photoelectrolysis, represent methods for both renewable and sustainable energy production. Here, we will present the principles of photocatalysis and the PhotoElectroChemical cell (PEC cell) for water splitting, along with functional materials. Defect chemical aspects will be high-lighted. To date, the decreasing length scale to the nanoscale of the functional materials attracts widespread attention. The nanostructure is beneficial in case diffusion lengths of the photo-generated charge carriers are substantially different.

Nanostructured materials for solar hydrogen production

Delft University of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering (ChemE), Section Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS), Delft, The Netherlands

Transilvania University of Brasov, Department of Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment, 1 Colina Universitatii, 500068, Brasov, Romania

Ovidius University Annals of Chemistry

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Nanostructured materials for solar hydrogen production"}

One of the main requirements for a future Hydrogen Economy is a clean and efficient process for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is...

Nanostructured materials for solar hydrogen production

Published Online: Sep 12, 2014

Page range: 32 - 38

Received: May 10, 2014

Accepted: May 17, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/auoc-2014-0006

Keywords
Hydrogen, photocatalysis, PEC cells, defect chemistry, nanosize

© Ovidius University Press

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Nanostructured materials for solar hydrogen production

Published Online: Sep 12, 2014

Page range: 32 - 38

Received: May 10, 2014

Accepted: May 17, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/auoc-2014-0006

KeywordsHydrogen, photocatalysis, PEC cells, defect chemistry, nanosize

© Ovidius University Press

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Hydrogen, photocatalysis, PEC cells, defect chemistry, nanosize