Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate light...

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The light reactions of photosynthesis assume a linear flow of electrons from water to NADP+. During this process, light energy drives the splitting of water molecules to produce oxygen. However, oxidation of water molecules is a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction and requires a strong oxidizing agent. This is accomplished by the first product of light reactions: oxidized P680 (or P680+), the most powerful oxidizing agent known in biology. The oxidized P680 that acquires an electron from the...

Anoxygenic Photosynthesis

Anoxygenic Photosynthesis

Anoxygenic photosynthesis is a phototrophic process that captures light energy to drive carbon fixation without producing molecular oxygen. Unlike oxygenic photosynthesis, which utilizes water as an electron donor and releases oxygen, anoxygenic phototrophs use alternative electron donors such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), elemental sulfur (S⁰), or thiosulfate (S₂O₃²⁻). This process is carried out by diverse groups of bacteria, including purple bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, heliobacteria, and...

Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes: Ozonolysis

Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes: Ozonolysis

In ozonolysis, ozone is used to cleave a carbon–carbon double bond to form aldehydes and ketones, or carboxylic acids, depending on the work-up.
Ozone is a symmetrical bent molecule stabilized by a resonance structure.

Radical Autoxidation

Radical Autoxidation

The oxidation of an organic compound in the presence of air or oxygen is called autoxidation. For example, cumene reacts with oxygen to form hydroperoxide. Autoxidation involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Many organic compounds are susceptible to autoxidation—especially ethers in the presence of oxygen, which form hydroperoxides. Even though this reaction is slow, old ether bottles contain small amounts of peroxide, which leads to laboratory explosions during ether...

Chemiosmosis

Chemiosmosis

Oxidative phosphorylation is a highly efficient process that generates large amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the basic unit of energy that drives many cellular processes. Oxidative phosphorylation involves two processes— the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.
Electron Transport Chain
The electron transport chain involves a series of protein complexes on the inner mitochondrial membrane that undergo a series of redox reactions. At the end of this chain, the electrons reduce...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Light-induced oxidative dehydrogenation of 12,13-dihydro-5H-indolo[3,2-c]acridine.

Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology·2026

Same author

Leveraging Intramolecular π-Stacking in Ru(II)-Pyridine Complexes to Induce Photoinduced Ligand Dissociation.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025

Same author

Unveiling the Light Induced Energy Transfer Events in Water Soluble Benzothiazole Appended Borondipyrromethene: Synthesis, Photophysical Study, and Applications to Amyloid Binding.

Chemistry, an Asian journal·2025

Same author

Deciphering the Role of Azaborondipyrromethene as an Electron Relay in Photoinduced Events Operating in Near-Infrared Absorbing Heteroaromatics Based Dual-Dye Substituted AzaBODIPYs.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2025

Same author

Effects of Structural Constraints on Excited-State Properties in Dimeric Cu(I) Diimine Complexes.

Inorganic chemistry·2024

Same author

Investigating the role of corrole as an excitation energy relay in light-induced processes in closely connected N,N'-bis(biphenyl-4-yl)aniline functionalized corrole donor-acceptor dyad.

Photochemistry and photobiology·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts

Published on: August 7, 2018

A molecular light-driven water oxidation catalyst.

Nattawut Kaveevivitchai¹, Raghu Chitta, Ruifa Zong

¹Department of Chemistry, 136 Fleming Building, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-5003, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|June 16, 2012

Summary

Ruthenium(II) complexes catalyze water oxidation using blue light, a photosensitizer, and sodium persulfate. An intramolecular dyad assembly demonstrated higher efficiency for oxygen production compared to separate components.

More Related Videos

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H₂ Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Published on: October 5, 2019

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts

Published on: August 7, 2018

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H₂ Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Published on: October 5, 2019

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Inorganic Chemistry
Photochemistry
Catalysis

Background:

Water oxidation is crucial for energy conversion.
Ruthenium(II) complexes are effective catalysts for water oxidation.
Photosensitizers are needed to drive catalytic processes with light.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the catalytic activity of two mononuclear Ru(II) complexes for water oxidation.
To explore light-driven water oxidation using a blue LED and a photosensitizer.
To compare the efficiency of an intramolecular dyad system versus an intermolecular system.

Main Methods:

Synthesis and characterization of two mononuclear Ru(II) complexes: [Ru(ttbt)(pynap)(I)]I and [Ru(tpy)(Mepy)2(I)]I.
Photocatalytic water oxidation experiments using blue LED irradiation (λmax = 472 nm), [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 as a photosensitizer, and sodium persulfate as a sacrificial electron acceptor.
Preparation and testing of a dyad assembly linking a photosensitizer and a catalyst.

Main Results:

Both Ru(II) complexes effectively catalyzed water oxidation when driven by blue light, a photosensitizer, and sodium persulfate.
The presence of all four components (light, photosensitizer, electron acceptor, catalyst) was essential for water oxidation.
The intramolecular dyad system exhibited a higher turnover number for oxygen production compared to the intermolecular system under identical conditions.

Conclusions:

Mononuclear Ru(II) complexes are viable catalysts for light-driven water oxidation.
A dyad assembly enhances catalytic efficiency by bringing the photosensitizer and catalyst into close proximity.
This study highlights the potential of integrated molecular systems for efficient artificial photosynthesis.