Electrospun fiber-based photocatalysts demonstrate significant potential in addressing global environmental and energy challenges, primarily due to their high specific surface areas and unique properties. This review examines recent advances in the application of these materials in photocatalytic processes, with a particular focus on water splitting and hydrogen production. The principles of the electrospun method are described in detail, along with the operating parameters, material characteristics, and environmental conditions that affect the fiber formation. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges, advantages, and future prospects of photocatalysts incorporating carbon materials, metals, semiconductors, and hybrid structures with improved performance. These materials have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of hydrogen energy production, water purification, and CO₂ recovery, highlighting their importance in engineering sciences.

Environmental problems associated with water pollution caused by organic dyes have raised serious concerns. In this context, photocatalytic processes have proven to be promising and environmentally friendly methods for water purification utilising abundant solar energy. In this study, a SrTiO₃-based photocatalyst was modified by doping with Al ions and the deposition of dual co-catalysts (Rh/Cr₂O₃ and CoOOH) to enhance the photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of methylene blue (MB). Pure perovskite SrTiO₃ was synthesised by chemical precipitation followed by calcination at 1100 °C. Al-doped SrTiO₃ with deposited co-catalysts showed 3.2 times higher photocatalytic activity compared to unalloyed SrTiO₃ with co-catalysts in MB decomposition under visible radiation. This study highlights the effectiveness of using dual co-catalysts and low-valence metal doping to enhance the efficiency of the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants. The density functional theory analysis results show that the Al doping of SrTiO₃ improves charge separation and increases the lifetime of photogenerated electrons and holes while maintaining the size of the forbidden band, which confirms its effectiveness for enhancing photocatalytic activity.

This study investigates the hydrogen adsorption performance of activated carbon (AC) derived from rice husks and modified with magnesium and nickel salts. Adsorption isotherms were recorded at 25 °C and 50 °C up to 80 bar, simulating practical storage conditions. The unmodified AC exhibited the highest hydrogen uptake (0.62 wt% at 25 °C), attributed to its high surface area and dominant ultramicroporosity (<0.9 nm). Modifications with Mg and Ni reduced adsorption capacity, likely due to partial pore blockage and decreased surface functionality, as confirmed by FTIR, Raman, and XRD analyses. Despite this, all samples demonstrated stable cyclic adsorption–desorption behavior and consistent isotherm profiles. Hysteresis observed in the modified samples suggests capillary condensation within mesopores. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the exothermic nature of hydrogen adsorption. Among the modified materials, ACM10 (Mg-modified) exhibited the best performance (0.54 wt%), highlighting the importance of optimizing the metal content. The obtained results indicate that the micropore size distribution and accessible surface functionality critically govern the hydrogen storage capacity, suggesting that unmodified AC is a promising candidate for low-temperature hydrogen storage systems.

Layers of TiO₂ nanotubes formed by the anodization process represent an area of active research in the context of innovative energy conversion and storage systems. Titanium nanotubes (TNTs) have attracted attention because of their unique properties, especially their high surface-to-volume ratio, which makes them a desirable material for various technological applications. The anodization method is widely used to produce TNTs because of its simplicity and relative cheapness; the method enables precise control over the thickness of TiO₂ nanotubes. Anodization can also be used to create decorative and colored coatings on titanium nanotubes. In this study, a combined structure including anodic TiO₂ nanotubes and SrTiO₃ particles was fabricated using chemical synthesis techniques. TiO₂ nanotubes were prepared by anodizing them in ethylene glycol containing NH₄F and H₂O while applying a voltage of 30 volts. An anode nanotube array heat-treated at 450 °C was then placed in an autoclave filled with dilute SrTiO₃ solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the TNTs were characterized by clear and open tube ends, with an average outer diameter of 1.01 μm and an inner diameter of 69 nm, and their length is 133 nm. The results confirm the successful formation of a structure that can be potentially applied in a variety of applications, including hydrogen production by the photocatalytic decomposition of water under sunlight.