Proceedings of MATSUS Spring 2024 Conference (MATSUS24)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsus.2024.425
Publication date: 18th December 2023
The development of renewable energy sources is a global challenge, as we seek new routes to address increasing CO2 levels, climate change and energy security. Many solutions have been suggested, including hydrogen generation. Photocatalytic water splitting using photosensitisers (PS) together with catalytic centres (Cat) (artificial photosynthesis) have been extensively studied by us and others.[1-4] The ultimate goal is to incorporate these assemblies into dye-sensitised photoelectrochemical cells. We have developed a range of intramolecular assemblies (inorganic and organic systems) containing various bridges such as terpyridine, triazole, or imines linking the PS to the catalytic centre to enhance hydrogen generation. We have also modified these systems and used them for CO2 reduction. We have performed in depth time-resolved studies to probe the excited states of the complexes to investigate the nature of the electron transfer processes, and carried out spectroelectrochemistry to aid in design of superior photocatalysts for both reduction processes. Our studies indicate that many parameters must be considered when designing such assemblies.
This research was funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Funding Programme 2018, Grant number 18/RDD/282, and the Research, Development and Demonstration Funding Programme 2019, Grant number 19/RDD/566, and the Irish Research Council Enterprise Scheme (EPSPG/2016/158).