Unlocking the potential of TiO2-based photocatalysts for green hydrogen energy through water-splitting: Recent advances, future perspectives and techno feasibility assessment

Hydrogen is becoming more widely accepted as a potential energy carrier due to zero emissions, superior energy capacity, and ecological sustainability. It can be produced in a number of ways, but photocatalytic water splitting using sunlight has recently attracted attention as a sustainable option. Photocatalysts based on semiconductors, especially TiO2 photocatalysts, have been the subject of extensive study because of their desirable physicochemical properties. There are still obstacles to overcome, however, including a wide bandgap, sluggish electron-hole recombination, and the potential for excessive H2 generation. Numerous strategies such as doping, defect engineering, dye sensitization, and semiconductor coupling have been investigated with the goal of improving the performance of TiO2 by discovering solutions to these limitations. This article summarizes current research on the multiple parameters affecting the photocatalytic process in dynamic H2 generation. Surface area, particle size, TiO2 loading, pH, temperature, light source, light intensity, sacrificial reagents, and band gap energy are all important characteristics of photocatalysts. The techno-feasible analysis, current challenges, possibility for subsequent research, and the potential for H2 production by the photocatalytic water-splitting process are further addressed in this article.