Artificial photosynthesis device

Artificial Photosynthesis, Fig. 4 (a) Schematic view of a possible setup for an artificial photosynthesis device based on enzymes. A photoanode made from PSII anchored on a gold electrode has been presented by Rogner and coworkers [11]. Lenz and coworkers [12] have prepared a photocathode based on a PSI-hydrogenase construct anchored to a gold electrode. H-ase = hydrogenase, S = redox shuttle. The scheme is... 

This simple reaction is a key component in the construction of artificial photosynthesis devices (Fig. 3). The reductive formation of hydrogen in the cathode is coupled with the oxidative splitting of water in the photoanode. Once hydrogen has been collected and stored, this solar fuel can be... 

Supramolecular systems molecular devices, artificial photosynthesis, antenna effect, etc. 

The protons/electrons produced in water oxidation at a photoanode side of a PEC device could be used (on the cathode side) to reduce C02 to alcohols/hydrocarbons (CH4, CH30H, HC00H, etc.). In this way, an artificial leaf (photosynthesis) device could be developed [11]. While nanocarbon materials containing iron or other metal particles show interesting properties in this C02 reduction [106], it is beyond the scope of this chapter to discuss this reaction here. It is worthwhile, however, to mention how nanocarbon materials can be critical elements to design both anode and cathode in advanced PEC solar cells. Nanocarbons have also been successfully used for developing photocatalysts active in the reduction of C02 with water [107]. 

Since PET lies at the heart of natural photosynthesis, there is a wealth of information available to device designers. Some of this data has arisen from exploratory photochemistry, while some have their origins in artificial photosynthesis research. " ... 

The implementation of artificial photosynthesis [6] is a major challenge as scientists are not yet able to design and synthesize devices that mimic the natural process in an... 

The theoretical grounds of ET processes are of basic importance to understand natural photosynthesis and to tailor artificial photosynthetic devices. Marcus theory [10,31], summarized in Eq. (6), provides the essence of ET and charge separation. It states that the ET rate constant between a donor and an acceptor depends exponentially on the distance, d, separating the redox components, and on the free-energy change, AG°, and the reorganization energy, 1, associated with the ET process. 

The remarkable efficiency of reaction-center photochemistry has encouraged the design and the study of synthetic models. Most research on artificial photosynthesis has been directed toward mimicry of the natural reaction center (RC). The center functions as a molecular-scale solar photovoltaic device that converts light energy into chemical energy that can be transported and stored for maintenance, growth, and... 

CT and catalysis in a polymer membrane coated on an electrode are important processes to create various sensors and devices for photochemical energy conversion. Among such devices, the apphcation to solar cells and future artificial photosynthetic systems to create energy from simshine is attracting a great deal of attention. In this section, appHcations of CT and catalysis in a polymer membrane coated on an electrode to a dye-sensitized solar cell and an artificial photosynthesis are reviewed. 

Fig. 9 Photosensitizer (P) - oxygen evolving catalyst (OEC) dyad supported onto a nanos-tructured material, deposited onto an electrode. The resulting photoanode is then assembled with a cathode and a membrane, yielding a device for artificial photosynthesis (i.e. an artificial leaf).

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