RUI: Harnessing Electroanalytical Chemistry for the Exploration of Photocatalytic Electron Transfer Processes

利用光能进行化学反应的催化剂是许多重要过程的关键，包括合成新分子、将水分解为氢气和氧气以及光合作用。研究这些催化剂很重要，因为更好地了解它们的工作原理可以在当前的应用中带来更高的效率，以及新的催化剂和新的工艺。在这个项目中，布林莫尔学院的戈德史密斯博士正在开发一种分析方法，以衡量催化剂利用其捕获的光能的效率。这一新方法正被用于研究已知的催化系统，以了解如何对其进行修改和改进。戈德史密斯博士还在制造含有这些催化剂的聚合物(塑料)，以构建更好地捕捉光能的系统。这一新的分析技术使我们能够洞察这些系统的功能。通过本研究对影响捕光效率的因素有了更深入的了解，为进一步开发和改进催化剂提供了途径。作为一名女子学院的教员，戈德史密斯博士坚定地致力于为女性和代表性不足的少数族裔增加进入科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)的机会并保持其坚持不懈。这个研究项目正在影响戈德史密斯博士的课堂教学。该研究项目激发了学生对催化和可再生能源等主题的兴趣--这些都是当今社会的大型产业。让Bryn Mawr学院的不同学生群体直接参与这项研究，为妇女和少数族裔提供了从事尖端跨学科研究的机会，并促进了他们对STEM的参与。戈德史密斯博士和他在布林莫尔学院的研究小组正在开发一种分析技术，即光诱导计时安培(PICA)，它将光激发与计时安培相结合，从而直接测量光诱导电子转移过程的效率。用PICA研究了一系列Ir基光氧化还原催化剂，包括可催化水还原成氢的催化剂和用于有机合成中单电子转移催化剂的催化剂。这些结果揭示了控制这类催化剂性能的结构-功能关系，指导了它们的合理优化。利用电聚合，含有这些催化剂的薄层捕光结构正在被构建。为了更好地了解如何设计一种利用可见光能量的最佳高效薄膜减水系统，PICA对这种结构实现光还原为氢的能力进行了询问。戈德史密斯博士在所有级别的课程中教授化学课程，这项研究提供了可以用来激发学生对STEM兴趣的真实例子。戈德史密斯博士的研究小组由布林莫尔学院不同类型的女学生组成。该研究主题鼓励学生在无机光化学领域进行跨学科研究，并促进他们更多地参与STEM。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Catalysts that use the energy from light to cause chemical reactions are key to many important processes, including the synthesis of novel molecules, the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gas, and photosynthesis. Studying these catalysts is important because a better understanding of how they work can lead to more efficiency in current applications as well as to new catalysts and new processes. In this project, Dr. Goldsmith of Bryn Mawr College is developing an analytical method to measure how efficiently catalysts use the light energy they capture. This new method is being used to study known catalytic systems to learn how they can be modified and improved. Dr. Goldsmith is also making polymers (plastics) that contain these catalysts to construct systems that better capture the energy from light. This new analytical technique gives insight into the functioning of these systems. The deeper understanding of the factors that govern light harvesting efficiencies obtained from this research provides avenues for the further catalyst development and improvement. As a faculty member at a women's college, Dr. Goldsmith is deeply committed to increasing access to and persistence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for women and underrepresented minorities. This research project is influencing Dr. Goldsmith's teaching in the classroom. The research project sparks students' interest in topics such as catalysis and renewable energy - large industries in today's society. Involving Bryn Mawr College's diverse student population directly in this research provides opportunities for women and minorities to engage in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and fosters their participation in STEM. Dr. Goldsmith and his research group at Bryn Mawr College are developing an analytical technique, photoinduced chronoamperometry (PICA), that couples photoexcitation with chronoamperometry to yield a direct measurement of the efficiency of photoinduced electron transfer processes. A series of iridium based photo-redox catalysts, including ones that can mediate the reduction of water to hydrogen and others that are used as single-electron-transfer catalysts in organic synthesis are being investigated with PICA. These results give insight into the structure-function relationships that govern the performance of such catalysts, guiding their rational optimization. Using electropolymerization, thin-layer light harvesting architectures containing these catalysts are being constructed. The ability of such structures to effect the photoreduction of water to hydrogen is interrogated with PICA in order to gain a better understanding of how to design an optimally efficient thin-film-based water reduction system that harnesses the energy from visible light. Dr. Goldsmith teaches chemistry courses at all levels of the curriculum and the research provides real-world examples that can be used to spark students' interest in STEM. Dr. Goldsmith's research group is composed of Bryn Mawr College's diverse female students. The research topic encourages the students in interdisciplinary research in inorganic photochemistry and facilitates their increased engagement in STEM.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.