Supported polyoxometalates as emerging nanohybrid materials for photochemical and photoelectrochemical water splitting

Abstract Sunlight and water are among the most plentiful sustainable resources of energy. Natural photosystem II in plants uses these ecofriendly manner for production atmospheric oxygen Inspired by this natural process, development artificial catalytic system to facilitate solar-induced splitting continuous hydrogen is holy grail chemist energy experts meet future demand at minimal environmental cost. Despite considerable research efforts dedicated area last decade, highly efficient, stable economic photocatalysts remain a challenging task large scale H 2 from water. Polyoxometalates (POMs)-based materials emerging photo/photoelectrocatalysts quest owing their multi-electron redox potential fast reversible charge transfer properties, which essential requirements photo-assisted catalysis. They generally soluble aqueous medium thus inherent catalytic/co-catalytic properties can be better exploited incorporating/immobilizing them over suitable support materials. Therefore, exploration discrete POM units possessing high surface area, functionalizable architecture, flexible pore size good light harvesting ability an attractive that has resulted generation strong library heterocatalysts. The underlying not only offers stability recyclability attributes but also provides decent dispersion, easy/maximum accessibility active sites, enhanced absorption capability, synergistically enhances activity electrons efficient charge/carriers separation creating POM-support junctions. This mini-review emphasizes on strategies incorporation POMs various porous supports like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic (COFs), oxide-based semiconductors, carbonaceous materials, etc., applications as effective splitting. In addition, mechanistic study, comparative analysis novel nanoscale highlighted. We believe review article will provide new direction scientific interest boundary engineering, solar-driven chemistry conversion/storage processes.