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Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions
Published on: October 5, 2019
A multi-heme flavoenzyme as a solar conversion catalyst
Andreas Bachmeier1, Bonnie J Murphy, Fraser A Armstrong
1Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The enzyme flavocytochrome c3 (fcc3), which catalyzes hydrogenation across a C═C double bond (fumarate to succinate), is used to carry out the fuel-forming reaction in an artificial photosynthesis system. When immobilized on dye-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles, fcc3 catalyzes visible-light-driven succinate production in aqueous suspension. Solar-to-chemical conversion using neutral water as the oxidant is achieved with a photoelectrochemical cell comprising an fcc3-modified indium tin oxide cathode linked to a cobalt phosphate-modified BiVO4 photoanode. The results reinforce new directions in the area of artificial photosynthesis, in particular for solar-energy-driven synthesis of organic chemicals and commodities, moving away from simple fuels as target molecules.
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