Harnessing Nickel-based Photocatalysts for CO2 Conversion and Hydrogen
Production -- A Review
Abstract
Photocatalytic processes of carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion and
molecular hydrogen (H2) production could potentially address two major
global challenges: greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and clean energy
generation, respectively. During photocatalysis, the energy harvested
via the light absorption in photosensitizers drives the important
chemical reactions using the photogenerated charges to convert water
into H2 or CO2 into value-added products. Recent decades have witnessed
the widespread popularity of photocatalytic technology owing to its
sustainable, renewable, and greener pathway to produce fuels and
chemicals. Given this, a wide range of materials have been explored for
photocatalytic applications. Among the developed materials, Ni-based
photocatalysts have received considerable attention due to their
distinct properties including low cost, stability, abundance, and high
activity. This review addresses recent developments concerning nickel
(Ni)-based photocatalysts used in photocatalytic CO2 conversion and H2
production. The use of Ni-materials plays a crucial role in enhancing
photocatalytic activity through improved light-absorption,
charge-separation, along with suppressed charge recombination to enhance
the efficiency of hydrogen evolution and CO2 conversion. The performance
of nickel-based photocatalysts during CO2 reduction and water splitting
reactions is summarized, which provide a comprehensive overview of
Ni-based photocatalyst efficiency and selectivity. Finally, challenges
and future prospects are examined in detail for further optimization of
Ni-based photocatalysts. This review also provides an update on the
studies that have been conducted on Ni-based materials for H2 generation
and CO2 reduction.