Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions
Published on: October 5, 2019
Cobalt Complexes of Polypyridyl Ligands for the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Evelyne Joliat-Wick, Mathias Mosberger, Nicola Weder
1Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The reductive part of artificial photosynthesis, the reduction of protons into H₂, is a two electron two proton process. It corresponds basically to the reactions occurring in natural photosystem I. We show in this review a selection of involved processes and components which are mandatory for making this light-driven reaction possible at all. The design and the performances of the water reduction catalysts is a main focus together with the question about electron relays or sacrificial electron donors. It is shown how an original catalyst is developed into better ones and what it needs to move from purely academic homogeneous processes to heterogeneous systems. The importance of detailed mechanistic knowledge obtained from kinetic data is emphasized.
More Related Videos
05:47Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
Published on: August 7, 2018
08:40Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Valence Bond Theory