Iron Complexes for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Increasing global energy demands have led to renewed interest in alternative energy sources such as solar power. Devices designed to harness solar power and convert absorbed energy into hydrogen fuel are an attractive option (termed ‘artificial photosynthesis’), and require the development of catalysts for hydrogen generation. We report here a family of iron complexes that are active catalysts for proton reduction to generate H2 gas. Photochemical studies show that ligand modification of the complexes significantly impacts activity levels, and quenching studies elucidate mechanism. These complexes present active, stable, and cost-effective means for hydrogen generation in devices for artificial photosynthesis