Coordination Chemistry（Sakai Lab.）

Our group focuses on the realization of artificial photosynthetic molecular systems driving splitting of water (H₂O) into H₂ and O₂ with use of solar energy (2H₂O + 4hν → 2H₂ + O₂). With this aim, we have performed the design and synthesis of new molecular catalysts based on metal complexes that can promote both water reduction and water oxidation processes in high turnover frequencies with lower applied overpotentials. In order to realize the hydrogen society, development of such fast catalysts that can function with low overpotentials is crucial in minimizing the input energy to drive the overall water splitting processes. This approach is directed to expand the wavelength range used for solar water splitting to a wider range that extends to a lower energy region of solar spectrum. Thus, our group targets development of new molecular catalysts that drive both water oxidation and reduction with a lower applied overpotentials. For their wide spread practical use in the future, catalyst development using cheap abundant non-precious metals, such as Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, etc., is also targeted in these studies. Improvement in the photoinduced electron transfer processes that generate reducing and oxidizing equivalents from solar light absorption is also targeted.