The advances on scaling-up of photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and field demonstration

In the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, solar-driven water splitting for hydrogen production has emerged as a promising approach and attracted substantial attention, owing to its potential for clean and renewable energy resource. Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting are two pivotal strategies that have shown remarkable progress in laboratory research. Nonetheless, transitioning from lab-scale breakthroughs to large-scale deployment remains a formidable challenge, with a complex array of technical and engineering issues. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art progress in scaling up photocatalytic and PEC-based hydrogen production systems, with particular emphasis on field demonstration efforts. More importantly, to understand the critical challenges associated with scaling up these technologies will give insights into the strategies essential for overcoming these obstacles during this transition. By summarizing the successes and the impediments encountered during the scaling-up and field demonstration phases, this review contributes to the broader understanding of the journey towards large-scale implementation of solar-driven water splitting for sustainable hydrogen production.