Unlocking the potential of TiO₂-based photocatalysts for green hydrogen energy through water-splitting: Recent advances, future perspectives and techno feasibility assessment

Hydrogen is becoming more widely accepted as a potential energy carrier due to zero emissions, superior energy capacity, and ecological sustainability. It can be produced in a number of ways, but photocatalytic water splitting using sunlight has recently attracted attention as a sustainable option. Photocatalysts based on semiconductors, especially TiO₂ photocatalysts, have been the subject of extensive study because of their desirable physicochemical properties. There are still obstacles to overcome, however, including a wide bandgap, sluggish electron-hole recombination, and the potential for excessive H₂ generation. Numerous strategies such as doping, defect engineering, dye sensitization, and semiconductor coupling have been investigated with the goal of improving the performance of TiO₂ by discovering solutions to these limitations. This article summarizes current research on the multiple parameters affecting the photocatalytic process in dynamic H₂ generation. Surface area, particle size, TiO₂ loading, pH, temperature, light source, light intensity, sacrificial reagents, and band gap energy are all important characteristics of photocatalysts. The techno-feasible analysis, current challenges, possibility for subsequent research, and the potential for H₂ production by the photocatalytic water-splitting process are further addressed in this article.