Aqueous light driven hydrogen production by a Ru-ferredoxin-Co biohybrid

Chem Commun (Camb). 2015 Jul 7;51(53):10628-31. doi: 10.1039/c5cc03006d.

Abstract

Herein we report the creation of a novel solar fuel biohybrid for light-driven H2 production utilizing the native electron transfer protein ferredoxin (Fd) as a scaffold for binding of a ruthenium photosensitizer (PS) and a molecular cobaloxime catalyst (Co). EPR and transient optical experiments provide direct evidence of a long-lived (>1.5 ms) Ru(III)-Fd-Co(I) charge separated state formed via an electron relay through the Fd [2Fe-2S] cluster, initiating the catalytic cycle for 2H(+) + 2e(-) → H2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Ascorbic Acid / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Electron Transport
  • Ferredoxins / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen / metabolism
  • Light
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Ruthenium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ferredoxins
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • cobaloxime
  • Ruthenium
  • Hydrogen
  • Ascorbic Acid