The molecular complexes which use solar energy to produce hydrogen from water will now boast of an additional capacity, according to the Virginia Tech chemistry research group.
The group, which just presented its research at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago, asserted that the new, more robust three-part molecules still harnessed light and covert it to chemical energy by splitting water to produce hydrogen.
Karen Brewer, professor of chemistry said,
What is different is the way the systems function. It is a three part molecule. The first part is a light absorber, harnessing visible and UV light. The second part is an electron reservoir. The third part is the catalysis to make hydrogen from water.
It is a different kind of energy production reaction – not married to hydrogen but linked to whatever catalyst is selected. For example, we can conceivably use carbon dioxide to produce methanol or other reduced forms of carbon dioxide.
The new molecules would enhance efficiency and it can also bind to DNA, providing applications in another Brewer group project, they said.
