Nanomaterials for renewable hydrogen production, storage and utilization

Abstract

An ever growing demand for energy coupled with increasing pollution is forcing us to seek environmentally clean alternative energy resources to substitute fossil fuels. The rapid development of nanomaterials has opened up new avenues for the conversion and utilization of renewable energy. This article reviews nanostructured materials designed for selected applications in renewable energy conversion and utilization. The review is based on the authors' research, with particular focus on solar hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and hydrogen utilization. The topics include photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting and photocatalytic hydrogen production, solid-state hydrogen storage, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). It is expected that the rational design of nanomaterials could play an important role in achieving a renewable energy based economy in the coming decades.