Photocatalytic Hydrogen Fuel Generation Designing Highly Efficient Semiconductor Materials

This book highlights crucial parameters and strategies in photocatalytic water splitting. The process utilizes light energy to drive the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen with the help of a photocatalyst. The efficiency and performance of catalytic activities are determined by various parameters supported by material characterizations. Commonly, the catalytic performances in visible-light photocatalytic water splitting are governed by bandgap energy, surface area, crystal structure, charge carrier dynamics, catalyst loading, cocatalyst, pH of solution, and reaction temperatures. However, covering all the requirements to obtain a highly efficient catalytic activity is an impossible task. Some recent strategies with promising results have been explored to improve and optimize the catalytic properties. In addition, various techniques for catalytic material characterizations, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, XANES, EXALFS, TRPL, TPC, EIS, and CV analysis, are also discussed. Finally, some related perspectives and outlook are discussed for future development. 

1. Photocatalysis fundamental with essential parameters for a water-splitting process.- 2. Surface defect engineering in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction.- 3 Composite semiconductor as a crucial strategy to enhance photocatalytic activities in hydrogen production.- 4. Surface plasmon resonance-based photocatalyst in evolving hydrogen fuel gas.- 5. Carbon-based nano photocatalyst with superior chemical and physical properties in enhancing hydrogen evolution reaction.

Dr. Hairus Abdullah received his doctoral degree from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in 2016. He continued to serve as a postdoctoral fellow in the same department till 2019. Then, he was accepted and worked as a project assistant professor till now. In addition, he also supports academic activities from 2012 - now at Universitas Prima Indonesia (UNPRI), Medan, Indonesia. Currently, his main activities are conducting research and teaching in the Department of MSE. During 2015–2024, he published more than 70 scientific SCI papers, majoring in photocatalysis, including hydrogen evolution reaction, hydrogenation of toxic species, antibacterial application, and electrocatalysis. Recently, his works have been extended to the fields of photoelectrochemistry and supercapacitors.