Recent advances of Nano-photocatalysts involved in hydrogen production by water splitting

Overexploitation of fossil fuels for energy production has impacted the globe tremendously in terms of warming and other environmental issues which is a grave issue of anxiety. An attractive solution would be to produce fuel like hydrogen, which is a clean renewable fuel as its combustion releases only water. Light-based splitting of water for hydrogen production using novel carbon and metal-based nano-catalysts has been the foremost emphasis of this review. The need for paradigm shifts from conventional semiconductors to novel nanocomposites, which could enhance the photocatalytic activity by reducing the recombination rate of photogenerated electron-holes/shortening the charge transfer distance through Z scheme, Type – II and Schottky junction is accentuated with recent advancements in the field. The implications and possible solutions with future perspectives to see hydrogen production technology are also deliberated.