Towards highly efficient photocatalysts using semiconductor nanoarchitectures

• DOI: 10.1039/c2ee03447f
• Publication Date: 2012-03-23T07:41:21Z
• Authors: Hailong Zhou; Yongquan Qu; Tahani Zeid; Xiangfeng Duan
• Keywords: Solar energy conversion; Solar fuel

The search for clean renewable energy sources is of central importance to address the ever-increasing challenges diminishing fossil fuels and global warming. Photocatalytic processes can mimic natural photosynthesis directly convert solar into chemical energy, represent an attractive strategy generation environmental remediation. Nanostructured semiconductors play important role in photocatalysis due their unique structures, physical properties. Here we present a brief overview recent progress development semiconductor nanostructure based photocatalysts. In particular, focus our discussions on four essential problems that dictate performance photocatalyst material: visible light absorption efficient harvesting, charge separation transportation, effective cocatalysts utilization, photoelectrochemical stability robust photocatalysis. Challenges, potential solutions, efforts each one these are discussed. Lastly, finish perspective with discussion concept using freestanding nanodevices as solution new highly stable