Development of an inexpensive, environmentally clean alternative energy source to minimize our dependence on fossil fuel is a major challenge to society. Nature has developed photosynthetic systems to store diffuse but abundant solar energy through chemical bonds, which has inspired chemists to design compounds that can replicate the same process in abiotic compounds. Our approach toward artificial photosynthesis involves coupling photochemical modules and H2-evolving catalytic modules via supra-molecular interactions. We have specifically targeted economically viable cobaloximes as the catalytic module as they have been demonstrated to be truly robust and efficient in electro� and photo-chemical pathways of hydrogen production. In this project we have investigated how fine tuning the linkage between Ru(II)polypyridyl based photosensitizers and the cobaloximes affect the functional parameters of the new supra-molecular photocatalysts. The prime goal of the project is to elucidate the mechanism of light-driven hydrogen production by heteronuclear supramolecular assemblies. A variety of physical techniques will be employed to probe the ground state characteristics (electrochemistry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy) and to shed light on the nature of the  transient state (transient absorption spectroscopy, time-resolved X-ray scattering). This study will give fundamental insight about the mechanism of photo-catalytic hydrogen production and will pave the way for new architectures for carrying out artificial photocatalysis.

Ultrafast charge separation in a cobaloxime photocatalyst supramolecular assembly

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.