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Beijing time on June 9 news, according to foreign media reports, at present, scientists have newly developed an artificial photosynthesis system that can convert light energy into hydrogen fuel. Photosynthesis is a chemical process that transforms light energy, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose during plant growth, and releases oxygen during the process.
Researchers have faced challenges in artificially replicating photosynthesis in plants, but the latest research involving “supramolecular†uses light to make hydrogen and one day it can be used as a fuel.
Photosynthesis is where plants harvest energy from light. Green leaves contain hundreds of pigment molecules (chlorophyll and other molecules) that absorb light at specific wavelengths. Artificial photosynthesis requires a molecular system that absorbs light, converts and separates the charge, and synchronously drives fuel manufacturing reactions that can effectively convert light energy into chemical energy.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Virginia Tech have designed a supramolecular that can do this work. The supramolecular is based on a photocatalyst that can accelerate chemical reactions when it absorbs light.
The photocatalyst contains a light collecting center composed of a cerium metal ion and is connected to a single catalyst center made of cerium ions. This bridge molecule connects two metal transition electrons to the ruthenium catalyst to produce hydrogen gas. The researchers created two types of supramolecules, one with 6 base metal centers and one with only 3 base metal centers.
They found that supramolecular molecules with six metal centers can absorb light to make more hydrogen fuel, and maintain long-term stability. It can last 10 hours. In contrast, supramolecular molecules with three metal centers can only last. 4 hours of steady state.
The supermolecule with six metal centers is excellent due to its slightly inferior electronic properties, which means that it needs more electrons than small molecules. The researchers pointed out that the latest findings on how the study of supramolecular work will facilitate the further study of light-harvesting molecules.
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