Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis01:34

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

10.5K
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...
10.5K
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry01:26

Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

1.9K
The absorption of UV–visible light by conjugated systems causes the promotion of an electron from the ground state to the excited state. Consequently, photochemical electrocyclic reactions proceed via the excited-state HOMO rather than the ground-state HOMO. Since the ground- and excited-state HOMOs have different symmetries, the stereochemical outcome of electrocyclic reactions depends on the mode of activation; i.e., thermal or photochemical.
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
1.9K
The Photochemical Reaction Center01:29

The Photochemical Reaction Center

4.3K
Reaction centers are pigment-protein complexes that initiate energy conversion from photons to chemical entities. Therefore, photochemical reaction center is a more appropriate term that describes these complexes. The Nobel laureates Robert Emerson and William Arnold provided the first experimental evidence of photochemical reaction centers by demonstrating the participation of nearly 2,500 chlorophyll molecules for the release of just one molecule of oxygen. Despite thousands of photosynthetic...
4.3K
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview01:26

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

2.4K
Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.
2.4K
Photosystem I01:27

Photosystem I

64.4K
Although structurally similar to photosystem II (PSII), photosystem I (PSI) is has a different electron supplier and electron acceptor.
Both these photosystems work in concert. An excited electron from PSII is relayed to PSI via an electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, which is comprised of the carrier molecule plastoquinone, the dual-protein cytochrome complex, and plastocyanin. As electrons move between PSII and PSI, they lose energy and must be re-energized...
64.4K
Redox Reactions01:24

Redox Reactions

56.4K
Oxidation-reduction or redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another. When an atom gains an electron, another atom must lose an electron, meaning oxidation and reduction must occur together. Since the redox occurs in pairs, the atom that gets oxidized is also called the reducing agent or reductant, and the atom that is reduced is also called the oxidizing agent or oxidant. A straightforward way to remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction is...
56.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Photocatalytic halogen atom transfer enables general dicarbofunctionalization of alkenes with organic halides and CO<sub>2</sub>.

Communications chemistry·2026
Same author

Electrochemical Tryptophan-Selective Bioconjugation in Neutral Buffer via Cooperative <i>N</i>-Oxyl Radicals.

Bioconjugate chemistry·2026
Same author

Evaluation of the Compatibility and Exudation of Plasticizers in PVC Plastics by the Proton Spin-Spin Relaxation Times T<sub>2</sub> with TD-NMR.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2026
Same author

Visible-Light-Induced Comprehensive Carboxylation of Benzyl Halides with CO<sub>2</sub> via Halogen Atom Transfer.

Organic letters·2025
Same author

Pyrophosphate as a Phosphate Donor for the Design of Stable and pH-Responsive Calcium Nanoparticles for Biomacromolecule Encapsulation.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2025
Same author

<i>fac</i>-Re(2,2'-bipyridine)(CO)<sub>3</sub>Cl Catalyzes Visible-Light-Driven Functionalization of an Organic Substrate with CO<sub>2</sub>.

JACS Au·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase
10:01

Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase

Published on: December 4, 2017

12.3K

Photochemical and Redox-Controlled ON-OFF Switching in Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer.

Ramranjan Mishra1, Yuya Matsuzaki1, Kanon Taniguchi1

  • 1Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Institute of Technology, 5-16-1 Omiya, Asahi Ward, Osaka, 535-8585, Japan.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 23, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a light- and redox-switchable proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) system using ruthenium complexes. This molecular switch controls water oxidation, offering a new strategy for functional materials.

Keywords:
ElectrochemistryMolecular switchPCETRutheniumWater oxidation

More Related Videos

Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
05:47

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

Published on: August 7, 2018

7.8K
Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms
08:52

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Published on: June 1, 2018

8.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase
10:01

Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase

Published on: December 4, 2017

12.3K
Preparation of Polyoxometalate-based Photo-responsive Membranes for the Photo-activation of Manganese Oxide Catalysts
05:47

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

Published on: August 7, 2018

7.8K
Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms
08:52

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Published on: June 1, 2018

8.5K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Photochemistry

Background:

  • Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is crucial for many biological and chemical processes.
  • Developing controllable PCET systems is essential for advanced molecular devices and catalysis.
  • Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes are versatile platforms for studying electron transfer and catalysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and characterize a reversible ON-OFF PCET switch based on ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes.
  • To investigate the light- and redox-triggered switching mechanism.
  • To demonstrate the control of electrocatalytic water oxidation using the developed switch.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes with a carboxylate ligand.
  • Photoirradiation to induce photosubstitution and generate a PCET-active aqua complex.
  • Electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses (e.g., cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy) to study the mechanism.
  • pH-dependent studies to elucidate the interplay of conformational change and electron exchange.

Main Results:

  • A reversible ON-OFF PCET switch was successfully implemented using ruthenium(II) complexes.
  • Photoirradiation generated a metastable aqua complex capable of PCET.
  • Redox stimuli induced a conformational change, regenerating the original complex and switching PCET OFF.
  • The system demonstrated external control over electrocatalytic water oxidation.
  • A pH-dependent mechanism was identified, with the rate-determining step shifting from unimolecular to bimolecular processes.

Conclusions:

  • A novel strategy for creating tunable molecular switches and redox-responsive materials was established.
  • The developed ruthenium complex-based switch offers precise control over PCET activity.
  • This work provides insights into the mechanistic details of pH-dependent PCET processes.