Vol.:(0123456789)
Topics in Current Chemistry (2019) 377:27
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-019-0253-4
1 3
REVIEW
Photocatalytic Approaches for Hydrogen Production
via Formic Acid Decomposition
Miriam Navlani‑García
1,2
· David Salinas‑Torres
1,2
· Kohsuke Mori
1,3
·
Yasutaka Kuwahara
1,3
· Hiromi Yamashita
1,3
Received: 31 May 2019 / Accepted: 10 September 2019 / Published online: 26 September 2019
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Abstract
The photocatalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid has recently emerged as an outstanding alternative to the traditional thermal catalysts widely applied in this reaction. The
utilization of photocatalytic processes for the production of hydrogen is an appealing
strategy that perfectly matches with the idea of a green and sustainable future energy scenario. However, it sounds easier than it is, and great efforts have been needed to design
and develop highly efficient photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen from formic
acid. In this work, some of the most representative strategies adopted for this application
are reviewed, paying particular attention to systems based on TiO 2 , CdS and C 3 N 4 .
Keywords Hydrogen production · Formic acid · Photocatalyst · Semiconductor ·
Heterojunction
1 Introduction
Hydrogen holds great hope in the current energy scenario as a promising energy
vector able to replace the widely used vectors based on fossil fuels (coal, oil, and
gas). This is due not only to the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves, but also to the
increasing energy demand experienced in the last decades and the negative impact
* Kohsuke Mori
mori@mat.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
* Hiromi Yamashita
yamashita@mat.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
1
Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka
University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
2
University Materials Institute of Alicante (IUMA), University of Alicante (UA), Ap. 99,
03080 Alicante, Spain
3
Unit of Elements Strategy Initiative for Catalysts and Batteries (ESICB), Kyoto University,
Katsura, Kyoto 615-8520, Japan
193
Reprinted from the journal
Chapter 6 was originally published as Navlani‑Garcia, M., Salinas‑Torres, D., Mori, K., Kuwahara, Y. &
Yamashita, H. Topics in Current Chemistry (2019) 377: 27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-019-0253-4.
Topics in Current Chemistry (2019) 377:27
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-019-0253-4
1 3
REVIEW
Photocatalytic Approaches for Hydrogen Production
via Formic Acid Decomposition
Miriam Navlani‑García
1,2
· David Salinas‑Torres
1,2
· Kohsuke Mori
1,3
·
Yasutaka Kuwahara
1,3
· Hiromi Yamashita
1,3
Received: 31 May 2019 / Accepted: 10 September 2019 / Published online: 26 September 2019
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Abstract
The photocatalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid has recently emerged as an outstanding alternative to the traditional thermal catalysts widely applied in this reaction. The
utilization of photocatalytic processes for the production of hydrogen is an appealing
strategy that perfectly matches with the idea of a green and sustainable future energy scenario. However, it sounds easier than it is, and great efforts have been needed to design
and develop highly efficient photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen from formic
acid. In this work, some of the most representative strategies adopted for this application
are reviewed, paying particular attention to systems based on TiO 2 , CdS and C 3 N 4 .
Keywords Hydrogen production · Formic acid · Photocatalyst · Semiconductor ·
Heterojunction
1 Introduction
Hydrogen holds great hope in the current energy scenario as a promising energy
vector able to replace the widely used vectors based on fossil fuels (coal, oil, and
gas). This is due not only to the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves, but also to the
increasing energy demand experienced in the last decades and the negative impact
* Kohsuke Mori
mori@mat.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
* Hiromi Yamashita
yamashita@mat.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
1
Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka
University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
2
University Materials Institute of Alicante (IUMA), University of Alicante (UA), Ap. 99,
03080 Alicante, Spain
3
Unit of Elements Strategy Initiative for Catalysts and Batteries (ESICB), Kyoto University,
Katsura, Kyoto 615-8520, Japan
193
Reprinted from the journal
Chapter 6 was originally published as Navlani‑Garcia, M., Salinas‑Torres, D., Mori, K., Kuwahara, Y. &
Yamashita, H. Topics in Current Chemistry (2019) 377: 27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-019-0253-4.