An overview on visible light responsive metal oxide based photocatalysts for hydrogen energy production

Now-a-days, researchers have paid much attention towards photodecomposition of water into H-2 and O-2 for the development of a green and sustainable environment. Numerous attempts have been made on the development of visible light driven photocatalysts for effective utilisation of solar light irradiation. In this article, we have reviewed and summarized some of the visible light responsive metal oxide photocatalysts developed by various research groups including our group. The different techniques adopted for the development of effective visible light responsive photocatalysts are explored and explained with examples. This review article highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities in the field of photocatalytic water splitting. It clearly describes the basic concept behind the development of visible light responsive metal oxide systems like metal ion doping, non-metal ion doping and various codoped systems, which will be helpful for investigation of novel visible light responsive materials for future application.