| 1. |
- Ahmed, Md Estak, et al.
(författare)
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A Bidirectional Bioinspired [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Model
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 144:8, s. 3614-3625
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the price-competitiveness of solar and wind power, hydrogen technologies may be game changers for a cleaner, defossilized, and sustainable energy future. H-2 can indeed be produced in electrolyzers from water, stored for long periods, and converted back into power, on demand, in fuel cells. The feasibility of the latter process critically depends on the discovery of cheap and efficient catalysts able to replace platinum group metals at the anode and cathode of fuel cells. Bioinspiration can be key for designing such alternative catalysts. Here we show that a novel class of iron-based catalysts inspired from the active site of [FeFe]-hydrogenase behave as unprecedented bidirectional electrocatalysts for interconverting H-2 and protons efficiently under near-neutral aqueous conditions. Such bioinspired catalysts have been implemented at the anode of a functional membrane-less H-2/O-2 fuel cell device.
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| 2. |
- Arkhypchuk, Anna I., et al.
(författare)
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Mechanistic Insights and Synthetic Explorations of the Photoredox-Catalyzed Activation of Halophosphines
- 2023
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Ingår i: Inorganic Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0020-1669 .- 1520-510X. ; 62:45, s. 18391-18398
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The light-driven activation of halophosphines R2PX (R = alkyl- or aryl, X = Cl, Br) by an IrIII-based photocatalyst is described. It is shown that initially formed secondary phosphines R2PH react readily with the remaining R2PX in a parent–child reaction to form diphosphines R2P–PR2. Aryl-containing diphosphines can be further reduced to secondary phosphines RAr2PH under identical photoredox conditions. Dihalophosphines RPX2 are also activated by the photoredox protocol, giving rise to unusual 3-, 4-, and 5-membered cyclophosphines. Transient absorption studies show that the excited state of the Ir photocatalyst is reductively quenched by the DIPEA (N,N-di-iso-propylethylamine) electron donor. Electron transfer to R2PX is however unexpectedly slow and cannot compete with recombination with the oxidized donor DIPEA•+. As DIPEA is not a perfectly reversible donor, a small proportion of the total IrII population escapes recombination, providing the reductant for the observed transformations.
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| 3. |
- Axelsson, Martin, 1993-
(författare)
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Illuminating Benzothiadiazole : Mechanistic Insights into its Role in Fuel-Forming Reactions
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Development and understanding of catalytic reactions involved in fuel formation are crucial to be able to make the energy transition into a sustainable future. One intriguing type of catalyst for these types of reactions is organic material catalysts, which combine some of the tunable nature of molecular catalysts with the scalability and robust nature of material catalysts. The understanding of the catalytic mechanisms in these types of materials is still a work in progress. In the last decade D-A type polymers have gotten a lot of attention as potential photocatalysts for fuel-forming reactions but currently, the mechanisms in which these reactions take place are very limited.This thesis focuses on the molecular unit benzothiadiazole (BT) and its role in catalytic fuel-forming reactions across various molecules and polymers. In paper I: The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is investigated on the small molecule 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7dicarbonitrile (BT). The study reveals that BTDN serves as an electrocatalyst for the HER. Some catalytic intermediates were identified spectroscopically and a catalytic mechanism was proposed.In papers II and III: Polymeric nanoparticles (Pdots) based on the polymer poly(9,9- dioctylfluorene-alt-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (PFBT) were investigated for photocatalytic fuel-forming reactions. First, the HER was explored and it emphasised the significance of proton binding to the BT unit as a catalytic intermediate. It also showed that changing to basic conditions can quench the HER and make place for CO2 reduction to CO and that PFBT Pdots exhibit good selectivity in catalyzing this reaction.Finally, in Paper IV, the binding and reduction of CO2 on the molecule BTDN were investigated. It was shown that BTDN can bind CO2 in multiple reduced states and reduce it to CO and oxalate in a third reduction, albeit with seemingly low efficiencies.
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| 4. |
- Bagnall, Andrew J.
(författare)
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Novel electrode and photoelectrode materials for hydrogen production based on molecular catalysts
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The PhD project focussed on the application of a cobalt tetraazamacrocyclic complex, in the literature commonly referred to as [Co(CR)Cl2]+ as a molecular catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This was within the broader scope of the EU MSCA H2020 ITN ‘eSCALED’ project, which primarily aimed to create artificial leaf devices for the storage of solar energy in chemical fuels and, as part of this, sought the development of novel bio-inspired and scalable materials. This included researching molecular catalysts without platinum group metals (PGMs) currently relied upon in commercial technology.Three main projects were pursued: firstly, studies of the mechanism of the catalyst itself under organic electrocatalytic conditions. Catalytic intermediates were generated and identified using spectroscopy (UV-vis, NMR, EPR) and the catalytic behaviour was followed with electrochemical techniques. An ECEC mechanism with a rate-determining second protonation step associated with the release of H2 was identified, noting in particular an initial protonation step on the macrocycle at the Co(II) state that was hypothesised to involve the macrocycle amine group acting as a proton relay under the investigated conditions.Secondly, a new synthetic strategy towards novel derivatives of [Co(CR)Cl2]+ was developed to prepare a derivative for anchoring onto sp2-carbon surfaces by pi-stacking interactions. The immobilised catalyst was studied by electrochemical methods and compared with another derivative from collaborators at ICIQ, showing that both derivatives work as heterogenised electrocatalysts for the HER with high faradaic efficiencies and good stability over one hour at pH 2 and especially pH 7, but one derivative displays higher current densities and stability, invoking some consideration of rational design principles for modifying molecular catalysts.Thirdly, studies of a photocatalytic system made up of copper indium sulfide quantum dots (CuInS2 QDs) as a photosensitiser with either [Co(CR)Cl2]+ or its benzoic acid-functionalised derivative were carried out in ascorbate buffer, focussing on the photocatalytic performance and electron transfer (ET) processes between the CuInS2 QDs and the catalyst to explain the remarkable activity and robustness reported for closely related systems. CuInS2 QDs modified to have a ‘hybrid-passivation’ ligand system for compatibility with NiO films were used. Rapid QD-catalyst ET processes were noted for both catalysts. A static binding model with a strong binding equilibrium was adapted for the system, applying a Poisson distribution. This prompts a reconsideration of the importance of anchoring groups for QD-catalyst ET efficiency in solution.
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| 5. |
- Bagnall, Andrew J., et al.
(författare)
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Ultrafast Electron Transfer from CuInS2 Quantum Dots to a Molecular Catalyst for Hydrogen Production : Challenging Diffusion Limitations
- 2024
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Ingår i: ACS Catalysis. - 2155-5435. ; 14:6, s. 4186-4201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systems integrating quantum dots with molecular catalysts are attracting ever more attention, primarily owing to their tunability and notable photocatalytic activity in the context of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). CuInS2 (CIS) quantum dots (QDs) are effective photoreductants, having relatively high-energy conduction bands, but their electronic structure and defect states often lead to poor performance, prompting many researchers to employ them with a core–shell structure. Molecular cobalt HER catalysts, on the other hand, often suffer from poor stability. Here, we have combined CIS QDs, surface-passivated with l-cysteine and iodide from a water-based synthesis, with two tetraazamacrocyclic cobalt complexes to realize systems which demonstrate high turnover numbers for the HER (up to >8000 per catalyst), using ascorbate as the sacrificial electron donor at pH = 4.5. Photoluminescence intensity and lifetime quenching data indicated a large degree of binding of the catalysts to the QDs, even with only ca. 1 μM each of QDs and catalysts, linked to an entirely static quenching mechanism. The data was fitted with a Poissonian distribution of catalyst molecules over the QDs, from which the concentration of QDs could be evaluated. No important difference in either quenching or photocatalysis was observed between catalysts with and without the carboxylate as a potential anchoring group. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed ultrafast interfacial electron transfer from the QDs and the formation of the singly reduced catalyst (CoII state) for both complexes, with an average electron transfer rate constant of ≈ (10 ps)−1. These favorable results confirm that the core tetraazamacrocyclic cobalt complex is remarkably stable under photocatalytic conditions and that CIS QDs without inorganic shell structures for passivation can act as effective photosensitizers, while their smaller size makes them suitable for application in the sensitization of, inter alia, mesoporous electrodes.
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| 6. |
- Banin, U., et al.
(författare)
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Nanotechnology for catalysis and solar energy conversion
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nanotechnology. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0957-4484 .- 1361-6528. ; 32:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This roadmap on Nanotechnology for Catalysis and Solar Energy Conversion focuses on the application of nanotechnology in addressing the current challenges of energy conversion: 'high efficiency, stability, safety, and the potential for low-cost/scalable manufacturing' to quote from the contributed article by Nathan Lewis. This roadmap focuses on solar-to-fuel conversion, solar water splitting, solar photovoltaics and bio-catalysis. It includes dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells, and organic photovoltaics. Smart engineering of colloidal quantum materials and nanostructured electrodes will improve solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency, as described in the articles by Waiskopf and Banin and Meyer. Semiconductor nanoparticles will also improve solar energy conversion efficiency, as discussed by Boschloo et al in their article on DSSCs. Perovskite solar cells have advanced rapidly in recent years, including new ideas on 2D and 3D hybrid halide perovskites, as described by Spanopoulos et al 'Next generation' solar cells using multiple exciton generation (MEG) from hot carriers, described in the article by Nozik and Beard, could lead to remarkable improvement in photovoltaic efficiency by using quantization effects in semiconductor nanostructures (quantum dots, wires or wells). These challenges will not be met without simultaneous improvement in nanoscale characterization methods. Terahertz spectroscopy, discussed in the article by Milot et al is one example of a method that is overcoming the difficulties associated with nanoscale materials characterization by avoiding electrical contacts to nanoparticles, allowing characterization during device operation, and enabling characterization of a single nanoparticle. Besides experimental advances, computational science is also meeting the challenges of nanomaterials synthesis. The article by Kohlstedt and Schatz discusses the computational frameworks being used to predict structure-property relationships in materials and devices, including machine learning methods, with an emphasis on organic photovoltaics. The contribution by Megarity and Armstrong presents the 'electrochemical leaf' for improvements in electrochemistry and beyond. In addition, biohybrid approaches can take advantage of efficient and specific enzyme catalysts. These articles present the nanoscience and technology at the forefront of renewable energy development that will have significant benefits to society.
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| 7. |
- Bozal-Ginesta, Carlota, et al.
(författare)
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Self-Recovery of Photochemical H2 Evolution with a Molecular Diiron Catalyst Incorporated in a UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
- 2020
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Ingår i: ChemPhotoChem. - : Wiley. - 2367-0932. ; 4:4, s. 287-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Photochemical hydrogen evolution from a UiO‐66‐incorporated Fe2(dcbdt)(CO)6 catalyst in conjunction with a ruthenium photosensitizer and an ascorbate donor ceases after a period of irradiation, but is restored after a 60 min. resting period in the dark. Control experiments show that neither product inhibition nor pore clogging is responsible for this surprising behaviour, and intra‐crystal linker scrambling is proposed as a potential explanation.
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| 8. |
- Brnovic, Andjela, et al.
(författare)
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Mechanistic Insights into the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Y5 and Y6 Nanoparticles
- 2023
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 127:26, s. 12631-12639
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Utilization of solarenergy in organic semiconductorsrelies oncomplicated photophysical processes due to the strong electron-holeinteractions. To gain a better understanding of these processes andtheir effect on the photocatalytic performance of non-fullerene acceptors(NFAs) within nanoparticles (NPs), we compared the excited-state dynamicsand photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of two NFA-based NPs,Y5 and Y6. Our results show that under LED light irradiation, Y5 NPsexhibit 14 times better hydrogen production activity than Y6 NPs.The hydrogen production activity was also evaluated under Xenon lightirradiation (AM1.5G, 100 mW & BULL;cm(-2)) for Y5 NPs,yielding 410 mmol/g after 24 h. Time-resolved spectroscopy experimentsrevealed a longer triplet lifetime for Y5 compared to Y6 NPs, andthe lifetime was reduced upon addition of the electron donor ascorbate.This suggests the involvement of the triplet state in reductive quenchingand better hydrogen evolution reaction performance for Y5 NPs. Thegood agreement between fluorescence and triplet lifetimes observedfor Y5 NPs was attributed to reverse intersystem crossing, which repopulatesthe excited singlet state through thermally activated delayed fluorescence(TADF). The absence of TADF in Y6 NPs could limit its efficiency forhydrogen evolution reaction, in addition to the intrinsically shortertriplet lifetime and reduction potential difference, making it animportant factor to consider in Y series-based NPs.
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| 9. |
- Cellini, Andrea, 1991, et al.
(författare)
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Directed ultrafast conformational changes accompany electron transfer in a photolyase as resolved by serial crystallography.
- 2024
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Ingår i: Nature chemistry. - : Springer Nature. - 1755-4349 .- 1755-4330.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Charge-transfer reactions in proteins are important for life, such as in photolyases which repair DNA, but the role of structural dynamics remains unclear. Here, using femtosecond X-ray crystallography, we report the structural changes that take place while electrons transfer along a chain of four conserved tryptophans in the Drosophila melanogaster (6-4) photolyase. At femto- and picosecond delays, photoreduction of the flavin by the first tryptophan causes directed structural responses at a key asparagine, at a conserved salt bridge, and by rearrangements of nearby water molecules. We detect charge-induced structural changes close to the second tryptophan from 1 ps to 20 ps, identifying a nearby methionine as an active participant in the redox chain, and from 20 ps around the fourth tryptophan. The photolyase undergoes highly directed and carefully timed adaptations of its structure. This questions the validity of the linear solvent response approximation in Marcus theory and indicates that evolution has optimized fast protein fluctuations for optimal charge transfer.
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| 10. |
- Cheng, Fangwen, et al.
(författare)
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Embedding biocatalysts in a redox polymer enhances the performance of dye-sensitized photocathodes in bias-free photoelectrochemical water splitting
- 2024
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dye-sensitized photoelectrodes consisting of photosensitizers and molecular catalysts with tunable structures and adjustable energy levels are attractive for low-cost and eco-friendly solar-assisted synthesis of energy rich products. Despite these advantages, dye-sensitized NiO photocathodes suffer from severe electron-hole recombination and facile molecule detachment, limiting photocurrent and stability in photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices. In this work, we develop an efficient and robust biohybrid dye-sensitized NiO photocathode, in which the intermolecular charge transfer is enhanced by a redox polymer. Owing to efficient assisted electron transfer from the dye to the catalyst, the biohybrid NiO photocathode showed a satisfactory photocurrent of 141±17 μA·cm−2 at neutral pH at 0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and a stable continuous output within 5 h. This photocathode is capable of driving overall water splitting in combination with a bismuth vanadate photoanode, showing distinguished solar-to-hydrogen efficiency among all reported water-splitting devices based on dye-sensitized photocathodes. These findings demonstrate the opportunity of building green biohybrid systems for artificial synthesis of solar fuels.
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