Nanophotocatalytic conversion of biomass to bioenergy

The global depletion of fossil fuels and increase in environmental pollution demands the development of environmentally friendly renewable energy resources. Utilizing biomass with incorporation of nanophotocatalyst is a novel and feasible strategy for improving the level of sustainability in chemical processes. A growing research cover subjects including the conversion of biomass with the aid of solar energy and the selective production of energy from biomass. This chapter covers the photocatalytic technologies using nanomaterials for conversion of different types of lignocellulosic biomass, with main focus on the generation of electricity, production of hydrogen, and biofuels. Moreover, the advancements and perspectives of related photocatalytic technologies using nanomaterials as catalyst are specifically discussed. It is suggested that more powerful and efficient nanomaterials be developed for photocatalytic applications in order to support the conversion of biomass into energy.