Ohio University’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Colloquium Series presents Dr. Russell Schmehl on “Coupling Catalysts for Water Reduction to Electron Delivery in Photochemical Water Reduction Systems” on Monday, Nov. 14, at 4:10 p.m. in Clippinger Laboratories Room 194.
Schmehl is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Tulane University.
Dr. Russell Schmehl
Abstract: It has been many years since the first demonstrations of artificial photosynthetic systems for reduction of water to hydrogen. In the interim significant developments have occurred in the development of light absorbers, electron mediators and, particularly, catalysts for water reduction. The entire area of research has evolved and is now referred to as solar fuels research. Despite the progress, the overall efficiencies of these systems have remained low, even for processes that involve use of sacrificial reagents that effectively eliminate energy wasting annihilation processes (recombination of electrons and holes). This talk will focus on approaches for the development of photochemical systems intended to produce strong reducing agents in solution and the coupling of the photogenerated reagents with various water reduction catalysts. Through transient spectroscopic investigations, mass spectrometric examination of photolysis products and overall quantum efficiency measurements, mechanistic details of the sequential photochemical and thermal reactions leading to water reduction begin to emerge.
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