Hydrogen and CO2 reduction reactions: Mechanisms and catalysts

Abstract

The electrocatalytic reduction of water to useful fuel via the hydrogen evolution reaction or CO2 reduction may afford a sustainable energy supply for the future. In this chapter, we discuss the recent developments on electrocatalytic materials for hydrogen (H2) evolution reaction and carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction which have been implemented in photocatalysis or photoelectrochemical reactions. The emerging strategies for replacing expensive platinum catalyst with earth abundant semiconductor materials in view of managing cost and material availability has been exclusively outlined here. Also, this chapter showcases novel materials, coatings and their recent strides to achieve high efficiency solar to fuel conversion from water and other pollutants. In summary, this chapter provides a holistic framework on a wide spectrum of materials, with consistent and meaningful comparisons between catalysts (hydrogen evolution electrocatalyst and photocatalyst) and etching insight into fundamentals and origin of catalysis.