Multifunctional Photocatalytic Materials for Energy

Multifunctional Photocatalytic Materials for Energy

Woodhead Publishing in Materials
2018, Pages 215-236
Multifunctional Photocatalytic Materials for Energy

10 - Photocatalysts for hydrogen generation and organic contaminants degradation

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-101977-1.00011-9Get rights and content

Abstract

The availability of water, which is the basis for all life forms, makes life on our planet possible. Plants naturally convert water into hydrogen and oxygen by photosynthesis that is useful for sustaining life. However, with the world’s increasing population comes an increasing demand for water. In fact, many parts of the world face a water crisis either because of the geographical location, the misuse of water, and/or the mismanagement of the wastewater coming from residential areas and industrial complexes, problems that sooner or later will become a crisis if not managed in a timely and effective way. Therefore judicious use of the available water resources and development of a structured wastewater management system are needed. This chapter focuses on two solar energy-based uses of nanocomposites, namely decontamination of organic pollutants in water and hydrogen production. The hydrogen released via photocatalysis of water can be stored and used as an energy carrier. Semiconducting nanocrystals and polymer nanocomposites present viable options for solving the water contamination problems.

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