Electro- and Solar-Driven Fuel Synthesis with First Row Transition Metal Complexes

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Sustainable fuel synthesis from water and CO2 is crucial for energy storage.
• Nonprecious 3d metal catalysts are increasingly integrated into solid-state devices.
• Catalyst immobilization on supports is key for efficient aqueous electro-, photo-, and photoelectrocatalysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on 3d metal-based molecular catalysts immobilized on heterogeneous solid-state supports.
• To discuss catalyst immobilization methods, supporting materials, and anchoring groups.
• To explore hybrid molecule-material systems for fuel synthesis and beyond.

Main Methods:

• Surveying literature on 3d transition metal catalysts and their immobilization techniques.
• Analyzing molecule-material hybrid systems (cathodes, photocatalysts, photocathodes).
• Discussing figures of merit, stability, and catalyst integrity.

Main Results:

• Identified benchmark homogeneous systems for proton and CO2 reduction.
• Detailed productive associations between molecular catalysts and various substrates (carbon, quantum dots, oxides, semiconductors).
• Organized hybrid systems into 'dark' cathodes, colloidal photocatalysts, and photocathodes.

Conclusions:

• Immobilized 3d metal catalysts on solid supports show promise for renewable fuel synthesis.
• Hybrid systems offer tunable properties for electrocatalysis and photocatalysis.
• Future directions include catalysis for higher-value products beyond H2 and C1 compounds.