One of the obstacles in using H2 as an energy source is generating H2 gas and while the photocatalysis of water has been widely studied, catalysts which operate under visible light have been rather under-utilised.
Su Su Khine Ma, Kazuhiko Maeda and Kazunari Domen have developed a ZrO2-modified tantalum oxynitride photocatalyst which operates at wavelengths > 420 nm and in their Hot article discuss a range of preparations using different Zr precursors under different conditions. All articles in Catalysis Science & Technology are free to access for the duration of 2012 so you can see full details of their investigation and the factors that affect H2 evolution by downloading their full paper.
Modification of TaON with ZrO2 to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under visible light: influence of preparation conditions on activity
Su Su Khine Ma, Kazuhiko Maeda and Kazunari Domen
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2CY00499B
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