Page 250 - Multifunctional Photocatalytic Materials for Energy

Photocatalysts for hydrogen generation and organic contaminants degradation 233

The use of platinum on active catalysts for hydrogen evolution has been proposed
and tested because of platinum’s selectivity toward hydrogen and lowering its disso-
ciation potential. However, the future direction of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
will focus more on designing a new platinum-free catalyst with band edges matching
those of the redox potentials of water and with a rapid charge transfer by maintaining
physical and photochemical stability. For a photocatalyst, efficiency along with reuse
and recyclability are equally crucial and can be achieved by the immobilization of
photocatalysts on templates/polymers. All these efforts will be vital in establishing
photocatalysis for hydrogen production and degradation of organic pollutants, key
steps in realizing a hydrogen economy and restoration of water resources, respectively.

Acknowledgments

R. Nagar acknowledges Symbiosis International University for research seed grant vide SIU/
SCRI/Minor Research Approval/2014/12/SIT1/1490. Bhaghavathi P. Vinayan acknowledges
the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for research funding. Eswaraiah Varrla acknowledges
former Nanyang Technological University and SRM University for the financial support.

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