Noble Metal-free Photosensitizer-Catalyst Hybrids for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation under Visible Light (A02)

The project aims at the synthesis, characterization and application of noble metal-free, highly active visible light-driven molecular HER photocatalysts. Development of covalent PS-CAT dyads by covalently linking π-conjugated thienoacenes as visible light photosensitizers to iron hydrogenase-inspired diiron complexes as HER catalysts will be studied. Chemical modification at the iron coordination environment is used to optimize the catalytic activity. As alternative catalyst models, molecular molybdenum sulfides will be covalently linked to suitable thienoacenes. In a next step, the most promising PS-CAT dyads will be functionalized to enable incorporation into soft matter matrices.

DFG Programme CRC/Transregios

Subproject of TRR 234:  Light-driven Molecular Catalysts in Hierarchically Structured Materials – Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies

Applicant Institution Universität Ulm

Project Heads Professor Dr. Peter Bäuerle; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Weigand