Visible light responsive photocatalysts developed by substitution with metal cations aiming at artificial photosynthesis

To solve resource, energy, and environmental issues, development of sustainable clean energy system is strongly required. In recent years, hydrogen has been paid much attention to as a clean energy. Solar hydrogen production by water splitting using a photocatalyst as artificial photosynthesis is a promising method to solve these issues. Efficient utilization of visible light comprised of solar light is essential for practical use. Three strategies, i.e., doping, control of valence band, and formation of solid solution are often utilized as the useful methods to develop visible light responsive photocatalysts. This minireview introduces the recent work on visible-light-driven photocatalysts developed by substitution with metal cations of those strategies.