Multifunctional Hybrid Interfaces for Energy Applications

Among the most innovative strategies in the energy transition, photo-electrocatalytic splitting of water for the production of "green hydrogen" plays a key role, as it provides an ideal energy carrier, obtained from renewable and circular resources and whose production and combustion fuels the H2O/O2 cycle, activated by sunlight. Currently, hydrogen production is mainly obtained from fossil sources, and in particular from natural gas, through thermochemical processes (reforming/pyrolysis) that generate quantities of carbon dioxide with high environmental impact. The perfect mechanisms of the leaf, realized in an artificial environment, allows for the production of hydrogen as a solar fuel, an ideal solution for sustainable development. In particular, a new catalytic system, based on the combination of perylene bisimides and polyoxometalates, arranged in a hierarchical assembly, offers new opportunities for the biomimetic splitting of water.<br/> <br/>References<br/> <br/>[1] Sartorel, A., Carraro, M., Toma, F. M., Prato, M., Bonchio, M. Shaping the beating heart of artificial photosynthesis: oxygenic metal oxide nano-clusters. Energy Environ. Sci. 5, 5592 (2012);<br/>[2] Toma, F. M.; Prato, M.; Bonchio, M. et al. Efficient water oxidation at carbon nanotube–polyoxometalate electrocatalytic interfaces. Nature Chemistry 2, 826-831 (2010).<br/>[3] Bonchio, M.; Sartorel, A.; Prato, M. et al. Hierarchical organization of perylene bisimides and polyoxometalates for photo-assisted water oxidation. Nature Chemistry 11, 146-153 (2019).<br/>[4] GobbatoT.; Rigodanza F.; Benazzi, E.; Prato, M.; Bonchio M. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.144,14021-14025 (2022).