Photocatalytic Water Splitting Using Oxynitride and Nitride Semiconductor Powders for Production of Solar Hydrogen

摘要

Water splitting using a photocatalyst for direct solar hydrogen production from sunlight and water, has been regarded as an important approach to artificial photosynthesis. Solar hydrogen, which is the simplest solar fuel, can then be converted to various energy carriers such as organic hydrides, methanol, methane, and ammonia for transportation and storage. The most active photocatalyst under visible light irradiation is a solid solution of GaN and ZnO, (Ga_1?xZn_x)(N_1?xO_x), modified with a Rh-Cr mixed oxide co-catalyst. Another promising candidate for photocatalytic water splitting is a mixed oxide with a perovskite structure, e.g., NaTaO₃ or SrTiO₃.