Review of Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: from Quantitative Approaches to Effect of Sacrificial Agents, Oxygen Vacancies, Thermal and Magnetic Field on (Photo)electrolysis

Finding suitable alternatives to the non-renewable energy resources of natural gas, coal and oil along with the employment of renewable fuels for energy production are the major challenges that we are facing today. Consequently, the transition to more environmentally sustainable and less polluting alternative resources is a key strategic objective for the energy industry. This is why hydrogen (H2) has attracted worldwide interest as a clean and viable energy source to progressively lessen our reliance on fossil fuels. In this review, we will focus on an in-depth study of photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting including the principle, mechanism as well as thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Other different effects have been discussed such as oxygen vacancy effect, sacrificial agents effect, magnetic field effect and thermal effect.