Metal oxidation states in biological water splitting

Artificial Water Splitting: Ruthenium Complexes for Water Oxidation

This thesis concerns the development and study of Ru-based water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) which are the essential components for solar energy conversion to fuels. The first chapter gives a general introduction about the field of homogenous water oxidation catalysis, including the catalytic mechanisms and the catalytic activities of some selected WOCs as well as the concerns of catalyst design...

Biological water oxidation: lessons from nature.

Hydrogen production by water splitting may be an appealing solution for future energy needs. To evolve hydrogen efficiently in a sustainable manner, it is necessary first to synthesize what we may call a 'super catalyst' for water oxidation, which is the more challenging half reaction of water splitting. An efficient system for water oxidation exists in the water oxidizing complex in cyanobacte...

Stabilization of High Oxidation States in Transition Metal Complexes

Metal–Organic Frameworks as Promising Photosensitizers for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Ti-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are demonstrated as promising photosensitizers for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Photocurrents of TiO2 nano wire photoelectrodes can be improved under visible light through sensitization with aminated Ti-based MOFs. As a host, other sensitizers or catalysts such as Au nanoparticles can be incorporated into the MOF layer thus further improvi...

Ultrathin metal-organic framework array for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting

Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks represent a family of materials with attractive chemical and structural properties, which are usually prepared in the form of bulk powders. Here we show a generic approach to fabricate ultrathin nanosheet array of metal-organic frameworks on different substrates through a dissolution-crystallization mechanism. These materials exhibit intriguing propertie...