Hydrogen production from water using a catalyst and solar energy is an ideal future fuel source. The search for suitable semiconductors as photocatalysts for water splitting into molecular hydrogen and oxygen has been considered to be an urgent subject for our daily life. In this review, we aim to focus on the research efforts that have been made so far for H-2 generation from water splitting by UV and visible light-driven photocatalysis. A number of synthetic modification methods for adapting the electronic structure to enhance the charge separation in the photocatalyst materials are discussed. Sacrificial reagents and electron mediators for the overall water splitting are also reviewed. The quantum efficiency of photocatalyst materials upon visible and UV illumination will be reviewed, summarized and discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.