Molecular chemistry of consequence to renewable energy.
Energy conversion cycles are aimed at driving unfavorable, small-molecule activation reactions with a photon harnessed directly by a transition-metal catalyst or indirectly by a transition-metal catalyst at the surface of a photovoltaic cell. The construction of such cycles confronts daunting challenges because they rely on chemical transformations not understood at the most basic levels. These transformations include multielectron transfer, proton-coupled electron transfer, and bond-breaking and -making reactions of energy-poor substrates. We have begun to explore these poorly understood areas of molecular science with transition-metal complexes that promote hydrogen production and oxygen bond-breaking and -making chemistry of consequence to water splitting.
Dempsey
Jillian L
JL
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139-4307, USA.
Esswein
Arthur J
AJ
Manke
David R
DR
Rosenthal
Joel
J
Soper
Jake D
JD
Nocera
Daniel G
DG
D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004583:Electrons; D006859:Hydrogen; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010777:Photochemistry
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D006859:Hydrogen