Collaborative Research: The Design, Chemistry and Study of Systems for Making Solar Hydrogen

化学催化项目支持罗切斯特大学的Richard Eisenberg教授和David W. McCamant教授以及布法罗大学的Michael R. Detty教授和David Watson教授之间的四方合作，研究从水相质子中产生可见光驱动氢的新系统，以及相关的光化学和光物理研究，以充分理解这一关键转变。该反应对应于水分解的还原侧，是人工光合作用和光转化为储存化学势能的关键反应。研究的重点是：(1)含有新的或未研究过的用于光吸收和电子转移的发色团的体系，以及质子还原催化剂；(2)系统集成，因为不同组件的鲁棒性和活动性相互影响。丰富、环保、可持续发展的能源是本世纪重大的科技挑战之一，而太阳能转换是解决这一问题的关键长期战略。通过化学催化项目，这项合作研究工作将有助于基础科学，未来的能源技术可以建立和实施。氢经济的整个概念依赖于一种高效而强大的方法，即利用太阳作为主要能源来进行水分解。这项研究的更广泛影响将以两种主要方式表现出来。首先，通过所完成的研究，将获得更多关于水分裂的还原方面的知识。对于最可行的新制氢系统来说，连接到一个成功的水氧化模块可能会产生一个太阳能分解水的系统。第二，新的科学家将接受教育和培训，以从事这一具有挑战性和重要的课题。

The Chemical Catalysis Program supports a four-way collaboration between Professors Richard Eisenberg and David W. McCamant of the University of Rochester and Michael R. Detty and David Watson of the University at Buffalo on new systems for the visible light-driven generation of hydrogen from aqueous protons, and associated photochemical and photophysical investigations to fully understand this critical transformation. The reaction corresponds to the reductive side of water splitting, which is the key reaction in artificial photosynthesis and the conversion of light into stored chemical potential energy. The research focuses on: (1) systems containing new or unstudied chromophores for light absorption and electron transfer, and catalysts for proton reduction; and (2) systems integration since the robustness and activity of different components affect each other.Abundant, environmentally-benign energy for sustainable development is one of this century's great scientific and technological challenges, and solar energy conversion is the key long-term strategy to solving this problem. Through the Chemical Catalysis Program, this collaborative research effort will contribute to the fundamental science on which future energy technology can be built and implemented. The entire concept of a hydrogen economy relies on an efficient and robust means to carry out water splitting using the sun as the primary energy source. The broader impacts of the research will manifest themselves in two major ways. First, through the research accomplished, greater knowledge about the reductive side of water splitting will be gained. For the most viable new systems for hydrogen generation, connection to a successful module for water oxidation may yield a system for solar splitting of water. Second, new scientists will be educated and trained to work in this challenging and important subject.