Identification of Short-Lived Intermediates in Artificial Photosynthesis
December 02, 2014
The research group Molecular Simulations and Design at the Max Planck Institute Magdeburgp has identified short-living intermediates in the reaction cycle of photo-induced proton reduction together with its collaboration partners from Ångstrom Laboratories in Uppsala, Sweden.

Time-resolved laser spectroscopy at intermediates of artificial photosynthesis
Time-resolved laser spectroscopy at intermediates of artificial photosynthesis
© Reiner Lomoth / Ångstrom Laboratories, Uppsala University
© Reiner Lomoth / Ångstrom Laboratories, Uppsala University
The research group Molecular Simulations and Design around Dr. rer. nat. Matthias Stein at the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg has identified short-living intermediates in the reaction cycle of photo-induced proton reduction together with its collaboration partners from Ångstrom Laboratories in Uppsala, Sweden.
By using a Ruthenium-photosensitizer, the rates of electron transfer and proton transfer were obtained from a combination of laser-quench and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. Hydrogen evolution was observed from a proton-reducing iron-based catalyst.
The investigations show that the intermediates are different from those obtained from slower electrochemical experiments and were never observed before.