Functional nanostructures for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications

One of the most important technological difficulties that humanity is facing is the development of a long-term and sustainable energy economy. Devices that use sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen could be one key in solving this enormous problem as hydrogen is a green fuel. However, this required the development of cheap technology that can be used for cheap production of hydrogen. One of the most appealing methods for converting solar energy to chemical energy, in the form of H₂, is photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Various nanomaterials, such as semiconductor metal oxides, metal sulfides, and plasmonic materials are being explored to provide potentially viable systems. These nanomaterials were investigated extensively for the modifications of their physical and chemical properties for PEC water splitting. This book chapter highlights some of the recent research initiatives in the field of PEC-based nanostructured semiconductor materials for hydrogen generation from water splitting.