A critical review of metal-doped TiO2 and its structure-physical properties-photocatalytic activity relationship in hydrogen production

Abstract

Hydrogen production is an effective way to replace the primary energy to provide renewable sources as well as preserve the environment. Significant efforts have been developed to increase the effectiveness of hydrogen production through many methods. However, the challenge is still on-going, which exhibits insufficient efficiency and weak selectivity toward hydrogen production. Photocatalysis is one of the best methods to produce hydrogen as well as sustained the environment. Here, modification of TiO2 by metal doping photocatalyst is reviewed. The right conclusions only can be obtained if consistent data is used. So, in this review, the data used are only data generated from a research group, Bunsho Ohtani's research group of Hokkaido University, that used titania photocatalyst in the production of hydrogen. The photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts and their relationship with hydrogen production and the factors that affect hydrogen production are discussed critically using fuzzy graph and fuzzy logic modelling. Modification of TiO2 photocatalyst and its application for the production of hydrogen are studied. The modification is designated as mono-, bi-, and trimetallic metal doping. Moreover, there is no clarification has been done on the factors that affect the photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production. Thus, the mathematical tool, which is the fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is introduced in photocatalysis to provide the future direction of the structure-physical properties-photocatalytic activity relationship of metal-doped TiO2 photocatalyst. Au/TiO2 is used as the photocatalyst model towards the production of hydrogen under UV light irradiation in the form of a fuzzy graph. It was found that the low amount of Au metal doping and high surface area are the dominant factors to obtain high-efficiency hydrogen production for Au/TiO2 photocatalyst.