In　order　to　solve　the　shortage　of　sustainable　energy　and　the　related　concern　about　combustion　of　fossil　fuels,　converting　the　most　abundant　solar　energy　into　chemical　fuels　becomes　one　of　the　most　promising　choices　to　provide　the　everlasting　and　environmentally　friendly　energy　vector　along　with　the　minimum　impact　on　environment.　Among　the　methods　of　converting　solar　energy　into　chemical　fuels,　there　is　a　significant　interest　in　the　renewable　hydrogen　production　by　photocatalysts　from　abundant　water　under　visible　light　irradiation.　Therefore,　the　development　of　efficient　photocatalysts　for　water　reduction　and　oxidation　in　a　suspension　system　is　the　footstone　for　the　development　of　solar　energy　conversion.　In　this　review,　the　fundamental　theory　of　photocatalysis　and　key　factors　affecting　photocatalysis　will　be　introduced　first.　Then　the　new　materials　development　covering　inorganic　materials　(oxides,　nitrides　and　sulfides),　carbon-based　photocatalysts,　and　semiconductor-coordination　compound　photocatalysts　developed　over　the　past　10　years　will　be　addressed　with　discussion　about　dominating　factors　in　the　photochemical　process.　This　review　would　provide　a　comprehensive　reference　to　exploring　the　efficient　and　novel　materials　working　for　the　solar　energy　conversion　to　affordable　and　sustainable　fuels.　Finally,　the　perspective　of　the　technology　is　also　discussed.　©　2018　The　Authors