Heterogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen production from water and biomass derivatives

Hydrogen, a clean energy carrier, should be produced from not the irreproducible fossil fuels but renewable resources. Currently hydrogen is mainly produced by the reforming of petroleum and natural gas at high temperature, which consumes huge energy. Thus, development of an alternative hydrogen production method is absolutely imperative to mitigate the environmental and energy issues. Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water and renewable resources is one of the attractive systems, since it can utilize the solar energy. In this short review, we remind you that the systems of the photocatalytic hydrogen production from water and biomass derivatives, such as ethanol, glycerol, sugars and methane, should be considered as available candidates for the hydrogen production method from renewable resources and solar energy, and these systems have been improved by developments of new photocatalysts with some cocatalysts, modifications of photocatalysts, optimization of reaction conditions, and so on.