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Updated: Jul 20, 2025
Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
Published on: August 7, 2018
Key Strategies for Enhancing H2 Production in Transition Metal Oxide Based Photocatalysts
Mohammad Z Rahman1, Fazal Raziq1, Huabin Zhang1
1KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Transition metal oxides (TMOs) were one of the first photocatalysts used to produce hydrogen from water using solar energy. Despite the emergence of many other genres of photocatalysts over the years, TMO photocatalysts remain dominant due to their easy synthesis and unique physicochemical properties. Various strategies have been developed to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TMOs, but the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of TMO photocatalysts is still very low (<2 %), which is far below the targeted STH of 10 % for commercial viability. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of several widely used strategies, including oxygen defects control, doping, establishing interfacial junctions, and phase-facet-morphology engineering, that have been adopted to improve TMO photocatalysts. By critically evaluating these strategies and providing a roadmap for future research directions, this article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, students, and professionals seeking to develop efficient energy materials for green energy solutions.
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