CeBiTec Colloquium: 2009/05/15
Prof. Dr. Stenbjörn Styring
Department for photochemistry and molecular science, Molecular Biomimetics. The Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
2009/05/15, 15:15
CeBiTec Laboratory Building, Room G2-104
From natural to artificial photosynthesis – chemistry for the production of hydrogen from solar energy and water
Abstract:
The lecture will cover recent results, visions and strategies in research in the Swedish Consortium for Artificial Photosynthesis and the European network SOLAR-H2. Our research aims for the production of hydrogen, from the endless resources solar energy and water.
One of our main ideas is that water shall be oxidized in a molecular, catalytic process using solar energy. The electrons extracted from water shall be used in a second catalytic process to reduce protons to molecular hydrogen. This is what we denote Artificial photosynthesis. To manage our chemistry we use a biomimetic approach where we copy key principles from natural enzymes that accomplish partial reactions. Water oxidation using solar energy is carried out by the Photosystem II reaction center using a catalytic Mn4 complex. In our chemistry we use a photoactive ruthenium center to absorb light energy and trigger the electron transfer reactions. This photoactive Ru-center is coupled synthetically to synthetic multinuclear manganese-complexes.
The lecture will describe recent results on movements of protons and electrons in the water oxidizing complex in Photosystem II. The lecture will also describe recent chemical oxidation experiments that lead to the oxidation of water in synthetic Mn-systems.
Host: Prof. Dr. Olaf Kruse