Rational design of highly efficient solar light harvesting greener photocatalysts for solar fuel production

Abstract Harnessing solar energy for the production of valuable solar fuels is an auspicious approach in the present time. This research applies vital scientific principles for the synthesis of valuable solar fuels with the help of inexpensive photocatalysts. A number of research groups have synthesized artificial reaction center molecules known as photocatalysts. This study focused on the artificial photosynthetic systems that work as atmospheric cleansers by reducing the excess carbon dioxide. An artificial photosynthetic system is like natural photosynthesis that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen and this reduces carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into different solar fuels such formic acid (HCOOH), methane (CH 4 ), methanol (CH 3 OH), carbon monoxide (CO), or hydrogen (H 2 ) fuel. In this review, we studied the role of different greener photocatalysts in artificial photosynthetic systems. From the study, we find that the efforts to commercialize artificial photosynthetic systems have been productive, and it will soon be a worthwhile alternative fuel source.