Advances and challenges in MoS2-based photocatalyst for hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting

Hydrogen energy production via water splitting by using solar energy and appropriate photocatalyst is considered as an excellent renewable energy technology over the past few decades to address the global energy crisis due to its zero emission and cost effectiveness. MoS 2 , a family of TMDs, is one of the promising photocatalyst that gained much research attention for its low cost, earth-abundance, optoelectronic properties. Despite these fascinating properties, it suffers some drawbacks in photocatalytic hydrogen production activity such as, high charge carrier recombination and inert basal plane. In this review, we first identify the fundamental knowledge of the properties (optical, electronic, crystal structure) of MoS 2 and photocatalysis-with more emphasis on photocatalytic H 2 production which was found to be more feasible than other methods of hydrogen generation. Subsequently, various strategies to enhance the MoS 2 activity of hydrogen production like metal/non-metal doping, formation of heterojunctions and using sacrificial agents were reviewed. The photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of MoS 2 photocatalyst coupled with different cocatalysts and its various methods of preparation were also reviewed. • Fundamental understanding of the electronic, optical and structural properties of MoS 2 as photocatalyst was provided. • Photocatalytic requirement, mechanism for overall water splitting to generate hydrogen fuel was explained. • Various syntheses route and their influence on tuning photocatalytic properties were highlighted. • Formation of heterojunction, doping metals and non-metals for the enhancement of hydrogen production activity of MoS 2 -based photocatalyst was reported. • Hydrogen production performances of MoS 2 -based photocatalyst with various family of compounds such as metal oxides, MOFs, MXenes, graphene, g-C 3 N 4 and CdS were discussed.