Recent Advancements and Future Prospects in Ultrathin 2D Semiconductor-Based Photocatalysts for Water Splitting

• Main Authors: Xiaoyong Yang, Deobrat Singh, Rajeev Ahuja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Catalysts
• Subjects: ultrathin semiconductor-based photocatalysts; hydrogen evolution reaction; oxygen evolution reaction; overall water splitting
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/10/1111

Ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor-mediated photocatalysts have shown their compelling potential and have arguably received tremendous attention in photocatalysis because of their superior thickness-dependent physical, chemical, mechanical and optical properties. Although numerous comprehensions about 2D semiconductor photocatalysts have been amassed up to now, low cost efficiency, degradation, kinetics of charge transfer along with recycling are still the big challenges to realize a wide application of 2D semiconductor-based photocatalysis. At present, most photocatalysts still need rare or expensive noble metals to improve the photocatalytic activity, which inhibits their commercial-scale application extremely. Thus, developing less costly, earth-abundant semiconductor-based photocatalysts with efficient conversion of sunlight energy remains the primary challenge. In this review, it begins with a brief description of the general mechanism of overall photocatalytic water splitting. Then a concise overview of different types of 2D semiconductor-mediated photocatalysts is given to figure out the advantages and disadvantages for mentioned semiconductor-based photocatalysis, including the structural property and stability, synthesize method, electrochemical property and optical properties for H₂<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>/O₂<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> production half reaction along with overall water splitting. Finally, we conclude this review with a perspective, marked on some remaining challenges and new directions of 2D semiconductor-mediated photocatalysts.