2016/01/17 by Kazuhiko Maeda, Kazunari Domen
Chemical Engineering · Energy · Materials Science · #Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis #Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques #Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
paper · pdf · doi:10.1246/bcsj.20150441
openalex publication_date 2016/01/17 · crossref created 2016/01/17 · crossref issued 2016/01/18 · crossref published 2016/01/18 · crossref published-online 2016/01/18 · crossref published-print 2016/06/15 · crossref deposited 2024/01/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28 · crossref indexed 2026/07/28
Abstract Overall water splitting using a semiconductor photocatalyst with sunlight has long been viewed as a potential means of large-scale H2 production from renewable resources. In general, the reaction can be accomplished when a photocatalyst is modified with a suitable cocatalyst that efficiently promotes water reduction. It is therefore essential to develop both photocatalysts and cocatalysts in harmony. Certain metal (oxy)nitrides are potential candidates as water-splitting photocatalysts because of their suitable band edge positions for water reduction/oxidation, small band gaps (<3 eV), and stability under irradiation. However, efficient water splitting using visible-light-responsive oxynitrides has still remained a challenge. This account describes our recent developments over the last 10 years of new oxynitrides as well as cocatalysts for overall water splitting under visible light.