Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
![[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59739.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
[DPEPhosbcpCu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst
Published on: May 21, 2019
Copper-Based Photosensitisers in Water Reduction: A More Efficient In Situ Formed System and Improved Mechanistic
Alastair J J Lennox1, Steffen Fischer2, Mark Jurrat1
1Leibniz Institute for Catalysis at the, University of Rostock, Albert Einstein-Straße 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
Abstract:
The reduction of water has been achieved through a non-noble-metal-based homogeneous catalyst system that is formed in situ. Optimisation of the ligand quantities increased catalyst turnover numbers compared to preformed complexes. Mechanistic studies confirm a heteroleptic Cu complex as the active photosensitiser (PS) and an in situ formed Fe-phosphido dimer complex as the water reduction catalyst. The in situ method has been used to screen a range of ligands for the active PS, which has led to the identification a number of structural features important to longevity and performance.
Related Concept Videos
Precipitation and Co-precipitation
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

