Simultaneous hydrogen production and photocatalytic pollutant removal: a review
Amit Kumar, Pankaj Sharma, Gaurav Sharma, Pooja Dhiman, Genene Tessema Mola, Mohamed Farghali, Ahmed K. Rashwan, Mahmoud Nasr, Ahmed I. Osman, Tongtong Wang
Abstract
Abstract Pollution and the rising energy demand are two major society issues, requiring urgent solutions. Here, we review the simultaneous production of hydrogen and removal of pollutants, with a focus on mechanisms, synthesis of photocatalysts, and applications. Remarkably, this method utilizes organic pollutants as sacrificial agents for photocatalytic hydrogen production, thus both reducing pollution and producing energy. Metal-doped, cocatalyst-loaded, organic and inorganic composite, heterostructure and heterojunction photocatalysts are described. We present applications to the removal of antibiotics and organic dyes. Pollutant degradation rates range from 5.3 to 100%, with hydrogen evolution of 13.7–2724.89 μmol·g –1 h –1 .