Photocatalytic water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction

Abstract

Photocatalytic water splitting, which involves the simultaneous reduction and oxidation of water producing hydrogen and oxygen gas, provides a means of harnessing the sun's power to generate an energy source in a clean and renewable fashion. Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to form hydrocarbons such as methane not only promises reduced emission of an important greenhouse but also a new source of fuel. Concerns over the effects of global climate change and the eventual demise of fossil fuels makes the search for clean alternative energy sources a top priority. This chapter details the progress in these two increasingly important areas: Hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting and photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction.