Investigations of water splitting for hydrogen generation using layered chalcogenides, weyl semimetals and other materials as catalysts and for oxygen generation using oxide catalysts

Abstract

Storage and production of hydrogen are essential elements of the hydrogen economy. Since hydrogen does not occur naturally on earth, it is produced chemically from processes such as steam-methane reforming and coal gasification. However, production of hydrogen has to be achieved from renewable sources which are possible with the processes highlighted in Figure 2 [1, 2]. As a forward-looking technology, catalytic water splitting has been a subject of extensive studies. Hydrogen has the highest energy density compared to fossil fuels and does not emit poisonous and polluting gases. As an excellent alternative to fossil fuels, hydrogen emits no polluting gases and is a constituent of water. Presently, hydrogen around the world is produced from the four primary sources, natural gas (48 %), oil (18%), coal (11 %) and water electrolysis (4 %) [3]. Power plants and natural gas are the most efficient ways to produce hydrogen.