BIOMIMETIC MODELS OF THE IRON HYDROGENASE ACTIVE SITE AS PROTON REDUCTION CATALYSTS IN LIGHT-DRIVEN SUPRAMOLECULAR SYSTEMS

摘要

With the ever increasing energy demand of a growing global population, the development of alternative and regenerative forms of energy is a clear necessity. The capture of sunlight and its conversion into readily available forms of energy may be ableto satisfy mankind's energy need of the future (Hoffmann 2001). Unless used directly for solar heating, sunlight is usually converted into electricity, a form of energy which is difficult to store and is best consumed the instant it is produced. Conversion of solar energy into hydrogen provides a solution to this problem, as hydrogen is a valuable fuel which can be stored without major difficulties (Williams 2002). This perspective provides the motivation for the development of supramolecular systems capable of catalyzing the light-driven splitting of water.