Discovery of the threshold potential that triggers photochemical water oxidation with Ru(II) photosensitizers and MOx catalysts

Megumi Okazaki*, Yasuomi Yamazaki, Daling Lu, Shunsuke Nozawa, Osamu Ishitani, Kazuhiko Maeda*

This work focuses on a traditional, well-known photochemical water oxidation system that uses a Ru(II) tris-2,2′-bipyridine photosensitizer and transition-metal oxide catalysts, which is an important half-reaction in artificial photosynthesis. Through a detailed investigation, however, a new perspective on water-oxidation nanoparticle catalysts is provided: the electron potential that enables the four-electron water oxidation reaction on the surface of metal oxide catalysts. The electron potential of metal oxide catalysts, which should be recognized but is difficult to measure in particulate suspension systems, can be a decisive factor governing their feasibility as water oxidation catalysts. Therefore, the findings of this work could provide critical information about water oxidation from the perspective of potential control for any metal oxide catalyst and may establish a new standard for selecting water oxidation catalysts under suspended catalytic systems in the future.

Chem Catal. 2024, in press.
論文: https://www.cell.com/chem-catalysis/fulltext/S2667-1093(24)00360-9