The generation of hydrogen (H₂) induced by solar water splitting over semiconductors has been regarded as one of the most promising strategies for providing clean and renewable energy sources for future energy sustainability. The key to achieving high solar-to-chemical-energy conversion efficiency is the design of efficient structures with high charge separation and transportation; thus, the development of inexpensive and functional nanomaterials has become quite necessary. Photocatalysts based on non-noble metals have great potential as substitutes for noble metal-based catalysts for H₂ generation from photocatalytic (PC) and/or photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this review, we present the recent progress on non-noble metal-based nanostructures using in PC and/or PEC water splitting and reveal their underlying roles in affecting the behavior of charge carriers in specific reactions. This review should bring new insight and inspire further innovative work on designing non-noble metals involved in solar water splitting.

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非贵金属应用于太阳能水分解

由半导体上的太阳能水分解引起的氢（H ₂）生成被认为是为未来的能源可持续性提供清洁和可再生能源的最有前途的策略之一。实现高的太阳能到化学能转换效率的关键是设计具有高电荷分离和运输效率的高效结构。因此，开发廉价且功能性的纳米材料变得非常必要。基于非贵金属的光催化剂具有巨大的潜力，可替代H ₂贵金属基催化剂由光催化（PC）和/或光电化学（PEC）分解水产生。在这篇综述中，我们介绍了用于PC和/或PEC水分解的非贵金属纳米结构的最新进展，并揭示了它们在影响特定反应中载流子行为方面的潜在作用。这项审查应带来新的见解，并激发进一步的创新工作，以设计涉及太阳能水分解的非贵金属。