New step of artificial photosynthesis

Scientists at the Jülich Research Center have taken an important step on the long path to imitate artificial photosynthesis. They can synthesize a stable group of inorganic metal oxides, which help oxygenate quickly and effectively.

Artificial photosynthesis can make a decisive contribution to addressing energy and climate issues, if researchers find a way to efficiently produce hydrogen gas with the help of solar energy. .

Hydrogen is considered to be the energy-bearing gas of the future. For example, the auto industry is making efforts to launch fuel cell technology beginning around 2010. However, fuel cell driving systems can only really be a close product. environmental protection if researchers succeed in making hydrogen gas from renewable sources of materials. For example, artificial photosynthesis - the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen with the help of sunlight - could be a miraculous method to solve this problem.

However, the path to success has many obstacles. One of the obstacles to overcome is the formation of aggressive substances in the process of water oxidation. Plants solve this problem by fixing and replacing their green catalysts immediately. Technical imitation depends on more stable catalysts when manufactured and synthesized for the first time by a team of Jülich Research Center - members of the Helmholtz Association - and Emory University. in Atlanta, USA. The new inorganic metal oxide group has a nucleus consisting of 4 ions of dilute transition metal ruthenium that catalyzes the oxidation of water quickly and effectively while it remains stable.

Professor Paul Kögerler of Jülich Institute of Solid Research - Institute of Solid State Research (Germany) excitedly said: 'Our water-soluble 4-valence ruteni complex has shown its effects in Water solution at ambient temperature '. He was also the one who synthesized and described this promising group of characteristics along with his colleague Dr. Bogdan Botar. Catalytic methods are implemented at Emory University. 'Contrary to all molecular catalysts for water oxidation, our catalyst does not contain any organic ingredients. That is why it is very stable '.

Botar explains the next step: 'The challenge now is to unify the Ruteni complex into active optical systems - a system that effectively converts solar energy into chemical energy.' Until now, people still get energy from an oxidizer.

References: Yurii V. Geletii, Bogdan Botar, Paul Kögerler, Daniel A. Hillesheim, Djamaladdin G. Musaev, and Craig L. Hill;An All-Inorganic, Stable, and Highly Active Tetraruthenium Homogeneous Catalyst for Water Oxidation;Angewandte Chemie, DOI: 10.1002 / ange.200705652.