Bioinspired water oxidation catalysts for solar hydrogen production

Monika Fekete, A Singh, Rosalie Hocking, Robin Brimblecombe, Lan-Yun Chang, Udo Bach, Antonio Patti, Gerhard Swiegers, G Charles Dismukes, Leone Spiccia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference PaperResearchpeer-review

Abstract

One of the challenges for tlie solar hydrogen production is the development of efficient catalyst, made from earth abundant el ments which can be integrated into light-harvesting photochemical devices. The only natural system established to photooxidise water using visible light .is a catalytic core consisting of a CaMn.Ox cluster known as the water oxidation centre (WOC) of Photosystem II, and is thus an inspiration for catalyst design. Recently, we reported the photon assisted electro-oxidation of water using tetranuclear Mn-oxo cluster ([Mn404L6t, L=(MeOPhhPOi), inspired by the WOC. Efficient electro-oxidation of water was achieved at a potential of 1.2 V (vs SHE) on incorporation within electrode bound Nafion membranes and irradiation with visible Ught. The present article summarises the progress we have made on photo-electrochemical cells that utilise catalysts based on the earth abundant manganese. Solar water oxidation has been achieved in a single multilayer device, combining the water oxidation catalyst with light absorbing dyes, and in tandem devices in which catalytic water electrolysis is driven by photo-voltaic cells, specifically two dye sensitised solar cells.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNew Trends in Coordination, Bioinorganice, and Applied Inorganic Chemistry
EditorsMilan Melnik, Peter Segl'a, Miroslav Tatarko
Place of PublicationBratislava
PublisherSlovak University of Technology Press
Pages519 - 535
Number of pages17
ISBN (Print)9788022735094
Publication statusPublished - 2011
EventInternational Conference on Coordination and Bioinorganic Chemistry (ICCBIC 2011) - Bratislava, Slovakia
Duration: 5 Jun 201110 Jun 2011
Conference number: 23rd
http://www.chemistry2011.org/system/documents/203/original/23iccbic_IUPAC.pdf?1307954896

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Coordination and Bioinorganic Chemistry (ICCBIC 2011)
Abbreviated titleICCBIC 2011
Country/TerritorySlovakia
CityBratislava
Period5/06/1110/06/11
Internet address

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