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Catalysts
Special Issues
Recent Developments in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
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Recent Developments in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1476

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gassan Hodaifa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering Department, Chemical Engineering Area, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, ES-14013 Seville, Spain
Interests: advanced oxidation processes; kinetic growth; biomass growth; industrial and urban wastewater; contaminant removal; wastewater treatment; clean technologies; sustainability and regeneration of wastewater; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xinhe Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hubei Key Laboratory of Pollutant Analysis and Reuse Technology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China
Interests: photocatalytic water splitting; photocatalytic hydrogen production; photocatalytic reduction of CO2; photocatalytic synthesis of organic chemicals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen continues to gain traction as a versatile energy carrier with the potential to decarbonize various sectors due to its high energy density (120 MJ/kg) and green and pollution-free combustion products. The International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review 2024 indicated that global hydrogen demand reached 97 Mt in 2023, an increase of 2.5% compared to 2022. Despite the challenges, significant investments and technological advances are driving progress in this area. The technologies used for hydrogen production can be broadly classified into thermal, electrochemical, biological, and photonic (light-driven) methods. In particular, photocatalytic techniques have garnered widespread interest, and photocatalytic hydrogen production is advancing rapidly thanks to innovations in materials science.

For this Special Issue, authors are invited to submit original research articles or reviews that emphasize the potential for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Photocatalytic water splitting.
  • The photoreforming of organics.
  • Photothermal water splitting.
  • Photoelectrochemical water splitting.
  • Hybrid approaches.

Prof. Dr. Gassan Hodaifa
Dr. Xinhe Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogen production
  • photocatalytic reaction
  • reforming reaction
  • catalysts
  • solar energy
  • novel materials
  • hybrid technologies

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4266 KiB  
Article
Co-Catalyst-Free Al6Si2O13/Cd8.05Zn1.95S10 Nanocomposites for Visible-Light-Driven Stable H2 Evolution and DDVP Degradation
by Zhenhua Li, Aoyun Meng, Wen Li, Guoyuan Xiong, Mingfu Ye, Yaqiang Meng and Zhen Li
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060564 - 5 Jun 2025
Viewed by 257
Abstract
The design of efficient and stable visible-light-driven photocatalysts is paramount for sustainable hydrogen (H2) evolution and the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides, exemplified by dichlorvos (DDVP). In this work, we synthesized a co-catalyst-free nanocomposite photocatalyst composed of Al6Si2O [...] Read more.
The design of efficient and stable visible-light-driven photocatalysts is paramount for sustainable hydrogen (H2) evolution and the degradation of organophosphorus pesticides, exemplified by dichlorvos (DDVP). In this work, we synthesized a co-catalyst-free nanocomposite photocatalyst composed of Al6Si2O13 (ASO) and Cd8.05Zn1.95S10 (ZCS). By constructing a Type-I heterojunction, the optimized ASO/ZCS-1 nanocomposite (ASO loading ratio: 30%) enhanced visible-light-driven H2 evolution activity (5.1 mmol g−1 h−1), nearly doubling that of pristine ZCS (2.7 mmol g−1 h−1). Stability assessments revealed catalytic durability for ASO/ZCS-1 over five successive cycles, whereas the activity of pure ZCS precipitously declined to 59.7% of its initial level. Additionally, ASO, ZCS, and ASO/ZCS-2 (ASO loading ratio: 50%) demonstrated notable photocatalytic efficiency toward DDVP degradation without any co-catalyst, reducing DDVP concentration to 56.2% (ASO), 18.9% (ASO/ZCS-2), and 38.4% (ZCS), with corresponding degradation stability of 93.8%, 95.1%, and 93.8%, respectively. These results underscore the superior photocatalytic activity and stability of ASO, ZCS, and ASO/ZCS in the remediation of organophosphorus pesticides, with the Type-I heterojunction structure of ASO/ZCS enhancing both degradation activity and stability. Comprehensive characterizations by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), and differential charge density analyses verified the Type-I heterojunction charge-transfer mechanism, effectively suppressing charge recombination and thus improving photocatalytic performance. Consequently, ASO/ZCS nanocomposites exhibit significant promise for broad applications in sustainable H2 production, pollutant degradation, and ensuring food and agricultural product safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production)
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Review

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46 pages, 4217 KiB  
Review
Comprehensive Insights into Photoreforming of Waste Plastics for Hydrogen Production
by E. M. N. Thiloka Edirisooriya, Punhasa S. Senanayake, Tarek Ahasan, Pei Xu and Huiyao Wang
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050453 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 985
Abstract
The global plastic crisis, with over 400 million metric tons produced annually and minimal recycling, demands urgent solutions. Photocatalytic plastic photoreforming offers a dual benefit: converting non-recyclable plastics into hydrogen fuel and valuable chemicals using solar energy under mild conditions. This critical review [...] Read more.
The global plastic crisis, with over 400 million metric tons produced annually and minimal recycling, demands urgent solutions. Photocatalytic plastic photoreforming offers a dual benefit: converting non-recyclable plastics into hydrogen fuel and valuable chemicals using solar energy under mild conditions. This critical review highlights recent advances in photocatalyst design, including semiconductors, MOF-derived materials, and co-catalyst systems, and explores key insights into plastic degradation mechanisms and reactor configurations. Operational factors such as pH, light intensity, and flow dynamics are discussed for their impact on hydrogen yield and product selectivity. Life cycle and techno-economic assessments reveal current challenges in efficiency, scalability, and cost to illuminate the feasibility of implementing the technology at industrial scale. This study suggests that innovations in catalyst engineering, light management, and system integration provide viable paths forward. With its potential to upcycle plastic waste and contribute to low-carbon hydrogen economies, photoreforming represents a promising approach in advancing circular economy goals, especially when coupled with policy support and smart separation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production)
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