Work

Toward economically viable green hydrogen production: enhanced catalytic atom-efficiency, dual-functional systems, and non-traditional water sources

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: , and TEOA) as hole scavengers, elevating the LCOH through continuous reagent consumption while forfeiting opportunities for value creation. Third, the extensive usage of freshwater in the HER process competes with the freshwater usage for humans and agricultural purposes. In this review, we briefly introduce the fundamentals of the light-driven HER process and establish a set of standardized parameters for evaluating both photocatalytic performance and techno-economic feasibility. Subsequently, we systematically review the recent advances in three key areas: (1) strategies for enhancing the catalytic atom-efficiency, (2) innovative dual-functional photocatalytic systems that productively harness photogenerated holes to synthesize value-added products, including through the utilization of wastewater, and (3) seawater-based feedstocks. By integrating LCOH analysis with technical performance evaluation across diverse strategies and water sources, this review aims to accelerate the transition toward sustainable, green and cost-competitive photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Source: Nanoscale Advances

DOI: 10.1039/d6na00555a