Ruthenium Nanoparticles for Catalytic Water Splitting

Both global warming and limited fossil resources make the transition from fossil to solar fuels an urgent matter. In this regard, the splitting of water activated by sunlight is a sustainable and carbon-free new energy conversion scheme able to produce efficient technological devices. The availability of appropriate catalysts is essential for the proper kinetics of the two key processes involved, namely, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). During the last decade, ruthenium nanoparticle derivatives have emerged as true potential substitutes for the state-of-the-art platinum and iridium oxide species for the HER and OER, respectively. Thus, after a summary of the most common methods for catalyst benchmarking, this review covers the most significant developments of ruthenium-based nanoparticles used as catalysts for the water-splitting process. Furthermore, the key factors that govern the catalytic performance of these nanocatalysts are discussed in view of future research directions.

Ni–Cu alloy nanoparticles loaded on various metal oxides acting as efficient catalysts for photocatalytic H2 evolution

Catalysis of Ni–Cu alloy nanoparticles loaded on various metal oxides for photocatalytic H₂ evolution depends on preparation methods and supports.

Shape- and size-controlled nanomaterials for artificial photosynthesis

Nanomaterials with various shapes and sizes have been developed to mimic functions of photosynthesis in which solar energy conversion is achieved by using nanosized proteins with controlled shapes and sizes. Artificial photosynthesis consists of light-harvesting and charge-separation processes together with catalytic units of water oxidation and reduction. Nanosized mesoporous silica-alumina was utilized to encapsulate organic charge-separation molecules inside the nanospace to elongate the lifetimes of the charge-separated states, as observed in the photosynthetic reaction centers. Metal nanoparticles with controlled shapes and sizes have also been utilized as efficient catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water with reductants by using electron donor-acceptor organic molecules as photocatalysts. The control of the shape and size of metal nanoparticles plays a very important role in achieving high catalytic performance in catalytic hydrogen evolution in water reduction and also in catalytic oxygen evolution in water oxidation.