Two-junction photochemical cells with photoelectrodes that model aspects of plants photosystem I and II (PSI and PSII) have been designed. The photoanode mimics the water oxidizing side of PSII and contains BiP-PF10 constructs consisting of high potential porphyrins (PF10) covalently attached to benzimidazole-phenol pairs (BiP). When BiP-PF10 assemblies are attached to semiconductor oxides and excited with visible light, they undergo photoinduced electron transfer. Electrons are injected into the semiconductor and the corresponding holes localized in the phenol, in combination with suitable catalysts, are capable of water oxidation. The photoelectrode model of PSI is sensitized by low potential phthalocyanines, which absorb light in the near IR. Upon photoexcitation, these dyes are designed to inject electrons into semiconductors having sufficiently negative conduction bands to effectively drive the reduction of protons to hydrogen.

Photoelectrochemical cells for the splitting of water and production of fuel

244th National Meeting (2012)

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