Nanostructured Materials for Photolytic Hydrogen Production

Abstract

A hydrogen economy is often considered an attractive alternative to our current fossil fuel-based energy system. In order for such a hydrogen economy to become reality, several challenges associated with the production, storage, transportation and use of hydrogen must be solved. This chapter addresses the issue of hydrogen production. While the currently most widely used method to produce hydrogen is based on the conversion of fossil fuel resources and does not therefore fulfill the requirement of CO2 neutrality, we discuss here the photolytic production of hydrogen via water splitting. This scheme is based on energy input from the most powerful and ultimately sustainable energy source mankind has at its disposal: the sun. Moreover, no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, and the method has potential for cost-effective large-scale production.