Nature-driven photochemistry for catalytic solar hydrogen production: a Photosystem I-transition metal catalyst hybrid

Solar energy conversion of water into the environmentally clean fuel hydrogen offers one of the best long-term solutions for meeting future energy demands. Nature provides highly evolved, finely tuned molecular machinery for solar energy conversion that exquisitely manages photon capture and conversion processes to drive oxygenic water-splitting and carbon fixation. Herein, we use one of Nature's specialized energy-converters, the Photosystem I (PSI) protein, to drive hydrogen production from a synthetic molecular catalyst comprised of inexpensive, earth-abundant materials. PSI and a cobaloxime catalyst self-assemble, and the resultant complex rapidly produces hydrogen in aqueous solution upon exposure to visible light. This work establishes a strategy for enhancing photosynthetic efficiency for solar fuel production by augmenting natural photosynthetic systems with synthetically tunable abiotic catalysts.     

Molecular complexes in water oxidation: Pre-catalysts or real catalysts

Artificial photosynthesis is considered a promising method to produce clean and renewable energy by sunlight. To accomplish this aim, development of efficient and robust catalysts for water oxidation and hydrogen production is extremely important. Owing to the advantages of easily modified structures and traceable catalytic processes, molecular water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) attract much attention during the past decade. However, the transformation of molecular WOCs to metal oxides/hydroxides or metal ions may occur under the harsh catalytic conditions, making the identification of true active species difficult. In this article, recent progress on molecular complexes acting as real catalysts or precursors toward water oxidation was briefly reviewed. We summarized the commonly used physical techniques and chemical methods that enable to distinguish homogeneous catalysts from heterogeneous catalysts. The factors that affect the nature of WOCs, such as reaction conditions, transition metal centers, and supporting ligands were discussed as well.     

自然和人工光合作用水裂解催化剂

近年生物光合作用水裂解催化中心的结构研究取得重要进展,为人工模拟光合作用水裂解研究提供了理想的蓝图。人工模拟生物水裂解催化中心、制备高效和廉价的人工水裂解催化剂、获得电能和(或)氢能被认为是解决人类所面临的能源危机和环境污染问题的理想途径。这方面的研究具有重要科学意义和应用价值,同时也是广受关注的重大科学前沿。本文对最近生物水裂解催化中心和其人工模拟研究进展进行了评述。     

Nanocatalysts for Solar Water Splitting and a Perspective on Hydrogen Economy

In this review article, nanocatalysts for solar hydrogen production are the focus of discussion as they can contribute to the development of sustainable hydrogen production in order to meet future energy demands. Achieving this task is subject of scientific aspirations in the field of photo‐ and photoelectrocatalysis for solar water splitting where systems of single catalysts or tandem configurations are being investigated. In search of a suitable catalyst, a number of crucial parameters are laid out which need to be considered for material design, in particular for nanostructured materials that provide exceptional physical and chemical properties in comparison to their bulk counterparts. Apart from synthetic approaches for nanocatalysts, key parameters and properties of nanostructured photocatalysts such as light absorption, charge carrier generation, charge transport, separation and recombination, and other events that affect nanoscale catalysts are discussed. To provide a deeper understanding of these key parameters and properties, their contribution towards existing catalyst systems is evaluated for photo‐ and photoelectrocatalytic solar hydrogen evolution. Finally, an insight into hydrogen production processes is given, stressing the current development of sustainable hydrogen sources and presenting a perspective towards a hydrogen‐based economy.     

Splitting water with cobalt

The future of energy supply depends on innovative breakthroughs regarding the design of cheap, sustainable, and efficient systems for the conversion and storage of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy. The production of hydrogen, a fuel with remarkable properties, through sunlight-driven water splitting appears to be a promising and appealing solution. While the active sites of enzymes involved in the overall water-splitting process in natural systems, namely hydrogenases and photosystem II, use iron, nickel, and manganese ions, cobalt has emerged in the past five years as the most versatile non-noble metal for the development of synthetic H(2)- and O(2)-evolving catalysts. Such catalysts can be further coupled with photosensitizers to generate photocatalytic systems for light-induced hydrogen evolution from water.     

Artificial Photosynthesis(AP): from Molecular Catalysts to Heterogeneous Materials

The development of green and renewable energy sources is in high demand due to energy shortage and productivity development. Artificial photosynthesis(AP) is one of the most effective ways to address the energy shortage and the greenhouse effect by converting solar energy into hydrogen and other carbon-based high value-added products through the understanding of the mechanism, structural analysis, and functional simulation of natural photosynthesis. In this review, the development of AP from natural catalysts to artificial catalysts is described, and the processes of oxygen production, hydrogen production, and carbon fixation are sorted out to understand the properties and correlations of the core functional components in natural photosynthesis, to provide a better rational design and optimization for further development of advanced heterogeneous materials.     

Computational modeling of green hydrogen generation from photocatalytic H2S splitting: Overview and perspectives

Hydrogen plays an important role in developing a clean and sustainable future energy scenario. Substantial efforts to produce green hydrogen from water splitting, biomass and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) have been made in recent years. H₂S, naturally occurring or generated in fuel gas processing and industrial wastewater treatment, can be split into hydrogen and sulfur via photocatalysis. Although it is not as widely used as water splitting for green hydrogen production, this process is considered to be an appropriate and sustainable way to meet the future energy demands, adding value to H₂S. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to improve the solar light utilization and splitting efficiency of H₂S based on the existing technology and materials. Along with that effort, molecular modeling and theoretical calculations are indispensable tools to provide guidance to effectively design photocatalysts for improving hydrogen generation efficiency. In this review, we summarize the published work on H₂S photocatalysis modeling and illustrate the use of different computational methods to gain more in-depth insight into the reaction mechanisms and processes. Moreover, an overview of quantum mechanical and molecular simulation approaches combined with other modeling techniques, relevant to material science and catalysis design and applicable to H₂S splitting is also presented. Challenges and future directions for developing H₂S splitting photocatalysts are highlighted in this contribution, which is intended to inspire further simulation developments and experiments for H₂S splitting, tailoring photocatalysts design towards highly efficient hydrogen production.     

Artificial photosynthesis: from molecular catalysts for light-driven water splitting to photoelectrochemical cells

Photosynthesis has been for many years a fascinating source of inspiration for the development of model systems able to achieve efficient light-to-chemical energetic transduction. This field of research, called "artificial photosynthesis," is currently the subject of intense interest, driven by the aim of converting solar energy into the carbon-free fuel hydrogen through the light-driven water splitting. In this review, we highlight the recent achievements on light-driven water oxidation and hydrogen production by molecular catalysts and we shed light on the perspectives in terms of implementation into water splitting technological devices.     

水电解析氢低贵/非贵金属催化剂的研究进展

氢气作为能量载体的氢能技术由于其清洁性、高能量密度等优势已获得越来越多的青睐与关注. 其中,可持续的产氢技术是未来氢能经济发展的必要先决条件. 通过可再生资源电力驱动的电解水技术是支持氢能经济可持续发展的重要途径,高活性、低成本的析氢催化剂的开发利用是提高水电解技术效率并降低其成本的关键因素. 本文主要介绍了近年来包括低铂催化剂和金属硫化物、金属磷化物、金属硒化物等非铂过渡金属催化剂在析氢方面的研究进展,详细讨论了析氢反应的催化性能、合成方法以及结构?鄄催化性能的关系,最后总结展望了水电解低铂及非铂过渡金属催化剂在未来发展过程中所面临的机遇与挑战.     

Artificial photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers

Presently, the world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis associated with the CO₂ produced by the use of fossil fuels to power our economies. As evidenced by the increasing levels in the atmosphere, the reduction of CO₂ to biomass by photosynthesis cannot keep pace with production with the result that nature has lost control of the global carbon cycle. In order to restore control of the global carbon cycle to solar-driven processes, highly efficient artificial photosynthesis can augment photosynthesis in specific ways and places. The increased efficiency of artificial photosynthesis can provide both renewable carbon-based fuels and lower net atmospheric levels of CO₂, which will preserve land and support the ecosystem services upon which all life on Earth depends. The development of artificial photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers contributes to the understanding of natural photosynthesis and to the knowledge base necessary for the development of future scalable technologies. This review focuses on the design and study of molecular and hybrid molecular-semiconductor nanoparticle based systems, all of which are inspired by functions found in photosynthesis and some of which are inspired by components of photosynthesis. In addition to constructs illustrating energy transfer, photoinduced electron transfer, charge shift reactions and proton coupled electron transfer, our review covers systems that produce proton motive force.     

过渡金属磷化物的制备及电催化析氢性能提升策略

氢能是一种绿色、 高效的二次能源, 在廉价的非贵金属催化剂的辅助下, 电解水制氢以其低成本和高效率受到广泛关注. 过渡金属磷化物因其独特近似球形三角棱柱单元结构能够暴露出更多配位不饱和表面原子, 因此在电解水制氢中表现出优异的催化活性和强耐腐蚀性. 本文综述了过渡金属磷化物的制备方法和在电催化析氢中的应用和性能的改善策略. 最后讨论了过渡金属磷化物催化剂存在的一些亟待解决的问题, 并展望了其未来的发展方向.     

Research Progress in Hydrogen Evolution Low Noble/Non-Precious Metal Catalysts of Water Electrolysis北大核心CSCD

Hydrogen energy technology with hydrogen as an energy carrier is gaining more and more attention due to its cleanliness and high energy density.Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been listed as one of the ultimate energy technologies in the 21st century.Among them, sustainable hydrogen production technology is a necessary prerequisite for the future development of hydrogen energy economy.Electrolyzed water technology driven by renewable resources represents an important way to support the sustainable development of hydrogen energy economy.The development and utilization of high activity, low cost hydrogen evolution catalysts is a key factor in improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of water electrolysis technology.This paper mainly introduces the recent research progress of hydrogen evolution catalysts including low platinum catalysts and non-platinum transition metal catalysts such as metal sulfides metal phosphides, metal selenides, etc; catalytic properties, synthesis methods, and structure-catalytic properties.Finally, the advantages and challenges of water electrolysis low platinum and non-platinum transition metal catalysts in the future development are prospected. © 2018 Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.     

Photosynthetic Antenna–Reaction Center Mimicry by Using Boron Dipyrromethene Sensitizers

Various molecular and supramolecular systems have been synthesized and characterized recently to mimic the functions of photosynthesis, in which solar energy conversion is achieved. Artificial photosynthesis consists of light‐harvesting and charge‐separation processes together with catalytic units of water oxidation and reduction. Among the organic molecules, derivatives of BF₂‐chelated dipyrromethene (BODIPY), “porphyrin’s little sister”, have been widely used in constructing these artificial photosynthetic models due to their unique properties. In these photosynthetic models, BODIPYs act as not only excellent antenna molecules, but also as electron‐donor and ‐acceptor molecules in both the covalently linked molecular and supramolecular systems formed by axial coordination, hydrogen bonding, or crown ether complexation. The relationships between the structures and photochemical reactivities of these novel molecular and supramolecular systems are discussed in relation to the efficiency of charge separation and charge recombination. Femto‐ and nanosecond transient absorption and photoelectrochemical techniques have been employed in these studies to give clear evidence for the occurrence of energy‐ and electron‐transfer reactions and to determine their rates and efficiencies.     

Pd基催化剂在分解甲酸析氢中的研究进展

甲酸是最简单的羧酸,无色、低毒,在室温下便于运输和储存。最近,甲酸作为一种最有前景的储氢材料,在室温下采用异相催化剂分解甲酸制氢气引起了科研工作者的广泛关注。和其他催化剂相比,Pd基催化剂在温和条件下催化甲酸分解制备氢气方面表现出优良的性能,是一种非常理想的非均相催化剂。本文介绍了多种Pd基催化剂的性能特点、制备方法和其在催化甲酸分解制备氢气领域的研究进展,并对其未来研究发展方向进行展望。     

Photochemical conversion and storage of solar energy

The possibilities for the photochemical storage of solar energy are examined from the standpoint of maximum efficiency and mechanism. Loss factors are considered for a general endergonic photochemical reaction and it is concluded that a realistic maximum solar energy storage efficiency for any photochemical system is 15–16%. The natural process of photochemical solar energy storage, namely, photosynthesis, is analyzed and it is found that the maximum solar energy storage efficiency of photosynthesis is 9.5 ± 0.8%. Kinetic and thermodynamic limitations on a photochemical energy storage process are identified and it is shown that the desirable production of hydrogen and oxygen from water probably cannot be sensitized with visible light if only one photochemical step is employed. However, by analogy with the mechanism of photosynthesis, two photochemical reactions operating in series permit a full utilization of the photochemically active part of the solar spectrum. A possible scheme is described and analyzed as to its possibilities and potential difficulties. Finally, some practical considerations are presented not only for the photochemical production of hydrogen but also for solid state photovoltaic devices.     

Photochemistry of porphyrins: a model for the origin of photosynthesis

A series of porphyrins and catalysts has been prepared as a model for the origin of photosynthesis on the primordial earth. These compounds have been used to test the hypotheses that (1) the biosynthetic pathway to chlorophyll recapitulates the evolutionary history of photosynthesis, and (2) the proto-photosythetic function of biogenetic porphyrins (biosynthetic chlorophyll precursors) was the oxidation of organic molecules by photoexcited porphyrins with the attendant emission of molecular hydrogen. This paper describes experiments in which photoexcited biogenetic porphyrins oxidize ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The concomitant reduction of protons to hydrogen gas occurs in the presence of a colloidal platinum catalyst. The addition of methyl viologen, a one-electron shuttle, increases the amount of molecular hydrogen generated during long irradiations and the quantum yield of hydrogen production. When the porphyrin and catalyst are held in association by molecular complexes, the increased efficiency of electron transfer produces higher yields of hydrogen gas.     

甲醇-H2能源体系的催化研究:进展与挑战

甲醇是优异的储氢化合物,质量储氢密度高达12.5%。甲醇-氢能源体系着力于解决氢能应用中储存和输送的瓶颈问题,助力氢能的推广和应用。甲醇高效高选择性原位产氢是甲醇-氢能源体系中的重要环节。基于此,本文介绍了甲醇制氢催化研究的最新进展和面临的挑战。从甲醇储氢的优势、经济合理性出发,结合笔者自身研究情况,对甲醇储氢-原位制氢的方式、应用形式及重整产氢催化剂的结构和催化机理研究进行了梳理、总结。期望为甲醇-氢能源体系的催化研究提供参考,促进氢能走向实用。     

催化氨硼烷水解制氢研究进展

当前,世界范围内的能源利用面临着巨大的挑战,开发绿色洁净能源十分重要。通过水解氨硼烷制备清洁可再生的氢气是解决能源问题的有效途径之一。选择合适的催化剂有效提高制氢效率是氨硼烷水解制氢的关键,开发高效安全的催化剂一直是该领域研究的重点和热点。本文从影响氨硼烷水解制氢反应中催化剂催化性能的因素出发,综述了活性金属组分和载体在催化剂制备过程中以及催化氨硼烷制氢反应中的作用。最后,对催化氨硼烷水解制氢过程所存在的问题以及今后的发展进行了总结和展望。     

A photocatalyst-enzyme coupled artificial photosynthesis system for solar energy in production of formic acid from CO2

The photocatalyst-enzyme coupled system for artificial photosynthesis process is one of the most promising methods of solar energy conversion for the synthesis of organic chemicals or fuel. Here we report the synthesis of a novel graphene-based visible light active photocatalyst which covalently bonded the chromophore, such as multianthraquinone substituted porphyrin with the chemically converted graphene as a photocatalyst of the artificial photosynthesis system for an efficient photosynthetic production of formic acid from CO(2). The results not only show a benchmark example of the graphene-based material used as a photocatalyst in general artificial photosynthesis but also the benchmark example of the selective production system of solar chemicals/solar fuel directly from CO(2).     

从液态阳光人工光合成淀粉

人工光合成是利用太阳能等可再生能源通过连续催化反应将水和二氧化碳转化为液态燃料的过程,是减少二氧化碳排放、实现绿色低碳发展的一种重要方法.人工光合成的目标产物不仅包括二氧化碳转化与利用得到的能源小分子,还包括淀粉和蛋白质等生物基大分子.在自然光合作用中,高等植物、绿藻和蓝细菌首先利用太阳能将水氧化放出氧气并产生还原型辅...