Faraday Discussion 155: Artificial Photosynthesis

Abstract

Molecular Photonics Laboratory, School of Chemistry, Newcastle University, Bedson Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK Email: anthony.harriman@ncl.ac.uk Faraday Discussions document a long-established series of Faraday Discussion meetings, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which provide a unique international forum for the exchange of views and newly acquired results in developing areas of physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry and chemical physics. The papers presented are published in the Faraday Discussions volume together with a record of the discussion contributions made at the meeting. Faraday Discussions therefore provide an important record of current international knowledge and views in the fi eld concerned. The latest meeting, FD155, held at the University of Edinburgh, UK, from 5th--7th September 2011, was dedicated to the subject of artifi cial photosynthesis and to the specifi c problem of utilising solar energy as a direct supplement to our current energy supplies. The meeting attracted over 120 delegates, mostly academic researchers, from around the world and involved 22 presentations covering many different aspects of artifi cial photosynthesis (1). Current research follows one of two major routes: loosely speaking these can be considered to involve photo-electrochemical approaches or the construction of bio-inspired molecular devices. Photovoltaic systems, based on either organic or inorganic materials, have the advantage that they actually work under ambient light conditions but they need to be equipped with suitable electrodes in order to use the photo-generated electrical current to split water or reduce carbon dioxide. Molecular systems lag far behind in terms of practical possibilities but are highly attractive in terms of mechanistic insight, intellectual challenge and beautiful synthesis. In both areas, there is a critical need to identify effective catalysts and it is here that the platinum group metals (pgms) play an essential role.