Semiconductor photocatalytic systems for the production of hydrogen by the action of visible light

Data on investigations of recent years on the creation of semiconductor photocatalytic systems for the production of hydrogen from water and aqueous solutions of electron-donating substrates are reviewed. Physicochemical approaches to extending the range of spectral sensitivity of the semiconductors (the use of sensitizers, semiconducting heterostructures, doping with metals and metalloids) are examined. Possible ways of improving the photocatalytic systems for the production of hydrogen with metal-sulfide and other types of semiconductors are analyzed. A general description of the advances and planned developments in the creation of photocatalytic converters of solar energy is given.