Prof. Dr. Sven Rau, Department of Physical Chemistry II, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

"Active repair of molecular hydrogen evolving photocatalysts - a new chapter in artificial photosynthesis"

Photocatalytic water splitting can be utilised with molecular photocatalysts. [1] Ruthenium complexes with related tpphz type ligands play an important role within this field. [2] Through a series of model catalysts we now can differentiate between several important structural aspects influencing the photocatalytic activity.
One very limiting factor for applying molecular catalysts is their propensity to loss of activity. Nature has devised elaborate repair systems restoring catalytic activity of biological molecular defined catalysts. [3-4] We present here a new concept on repairing the below described molecular photocatalyst and thereby boosting catalytic performance.

References:
[1] Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer: The Engine of Energy Conversion and Storage D. G. Nocera, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 1069−1081
[2] M. G. Pfeffer, C. Müller, E. T. E. Kastl, A. K. Mengele, B. Bagemihl, S. S. Fauth, J. Habermehl, L.
Petermann, M. Wächtler, M. Schulz, D. Chartrand, F. Laverdière, P. Seeber, S. Kupfer, S. Gräfe, G.
S. Hanan, J. G. Vos, B. Dietzek-Ivanšić, S. Rau, Nat. Chem., 2022, 14, 500-506
[3] Learning from Nature’s Example: Repair Strategies in Light-Driven Catalysis A. K. Mengele, S.
Rau, JACS Au, 2023, 3, 36-46
[4] Rationalizing In Situ Active Repair in Hydrogen Evolution Photocatalysis via Non-Invasive Raman
Spectroscopy S. Klingler, B. Bagemihl, A. K. Mengele, S. Kaufhold, P. Myllyperkiö, J. Ahokas, M.
Pettersson, S. Rau, B. Mizaikoff, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202306287 DOI:
org/10.1002/anie.202306287