Solar hydrogen via metallo-macrocycle-protein photocatalysts

化学催化计划支持教授托马斯斯皮罗，大卫贝克，丹尼尔R。Gamelin和克莉丝汀K. Luscombe，所有的华盛顿大学，谁寻求支持的研究创造的金属大环蛋白质结构作为新的光催化剂从水生产氢。该项目的中心思想是将联合收割机光子捕获和氢气生产结合到一个单一的化学组件中。该提案汇集了产生有效的H2-释放太阳能光电阴极所需的关键设计元素。朝着高效光生氢目标的进展将提供对光电化学和催化的更深入的理解。这两个主题都是当前的热门话题，但通常是分开研究的。如果该项目成功，它将带来科学和实用的红利。在化学催化计划的支持下，托马斯斯皮罗、大卫贝克、丹尼尔R. Gamelin和克莉丝汀K.华盛顿大学（UW）的Luscombe将对一个项目进行研究，该项目可能为高效廉价的光催化剂指明方向，这可能在太阳能氢经济的发展中发挥重要作用。这项工作的动机是开发新的清洁能源的紧迫性。太阳光的捕获和转化可以满足未来人类能源需求的主要部分;然而，能源储存和转化为运输燃料构成了重大挑战。更广泛的影响包括通过参与华盛顿大学的清洁能源倡议与公众沟通，该倡议维持一个网站，并为能源利益攸关方举办会议和讲习班。PI还将参加西雅图的太平洋科学中心的外展活动。此外，还将通过Baker小组和合作者开发的流行的在线计算机游戏fold.it（http：//fold.it），招募公众对该项目的蛋白质设计方面作出贡献。他们还将参加由NSF中心通过催化实现新技术运行的成功的高中外展计划，该中心位于华盛顿大学，这也为我们提供了一个招募少数民族本科生到他们实验室的机制。

The Chemical Catalysis Program supports Professors Thomas Spiro, David Baker, Daniel R. Gamelin, and Christine K. Luscombe, all of the University of Washington, who seek support for research on the creation of metallo-macrocycle-protein constructs as novel photocatalysts for H2 production from water. The central idea of this project is to combine photon capture and H2 production into a single chemical assembly. This proposal brings together the key design elements needed to produce an effective H2-evolving solar photocathode. Progress toward the goal of efficient H2 photoproduction will provide more in-depth understanding of photoelectrochemistry and catalysis. Both topics are of intense current interest, but are generally studied separately. Should the project succeed, it will bring both scientific and practical dividends. Water splitting is a major scientific focus for the future, and these results will garner wide interest.With the support of the Chemical Catalysis Program, Professors Thomas Spiro, David Baker, Daniel R. Gamelin, and Christine K. Luscombe, all of the University of Washington (UW), will perform research on a project that may point the way toward efficient and inexpensive photocatalysts, which could play a significant role in the development of a solar-hydrogen economy. This work is motivated by the urgency of developing new and clean sources of energy. The capture and conversion of sunlight can meet a major fraction of future human energy needs; however, energy storage and conversion to transportation fuels pose major challenges. Broader impacts include communicating with the public through participation in the University of Washington's CLEAN ENERGY initiative, which maintains a website and runs conferences and workshops for energy stakeholders. The PIs will also participate in Seattle's Pacific Science Center outreach activities. In addition, the general public will be recruited to contribute to the protein design aspects of the project through the popular fold.it (http://fold.it) on-line computer game developed by the Baker group and collaborators. They will also participate in the successful high-school outreach program run by the NSF Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis, housed at UW, which also provides us a mechanism for recruiting minority undergraduates to their laboratories.