PHOTOINDUCED GENERATION OF STRONG REDUCING AGENTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC NANOPARTICLES AS CATALYSTS FOR IN SITU GENERATION OF H2

摘要

The use of visible or ultraviolet light as a source of energy forngeneration of nanoparticulate metals has seen increasing use in recentnyears. The process usually involves generation of reducing agents viana photoinduced electron transfer reaction followed by in situnreduction of metal ions to the zerovalent form which, in the presencenof particular stabilizers, will form nanoparticles. In principle,ncontinued irradiation of such systems under conditions wherenreducing equivalents are produced photocatalytically can lead to thenaccumulation of charge on the nanoparticles which may, fornappropriate metals in the presence of a proton source, result in thenformation of hydrogen. This paper focuses on two aspects of thisnendeavor: (a) generation of strong reducing agents via photocatalyticnprocesses employing a sacrificial electron donor and (b) generationnof light induced electron transfer products that remain chargenseparated in solution for periods of time long enough for hydrogennproduction to compete with back electron transfer reactions.