Abstract

World demand for energy is rapidly increasing and finding sufficient supplies of clean energy for the future is one of the major scientific challenges of today. This book presents the latest knowledge and chemical prospects in developing hydrogen as a solar fuel. Using oxygenic photosynthesis and hydrogenase enzymes for bio-inspiration, it explores strategies for developing photocatalysts to produce a molecular solar fuel. The book begins with perspective of solar energy utilization and the role that synthetic photocatalysts can play in producing solar fuels. It then summarizes current knowledge with respect to light capture, photochemical conversion, and energy storage in chemical bonds. Following chapters on the natural systems, the book then summarizes the latest developments in synthetic chemistry of photo- and reductive catalysts. Finally, important future research goals for the practical utilization of solar energy are discussed. The book is written by experts from various fields working on the biological and synthetic chemical side of molecular solar fuels to facilitate advancement in this area of research.

Tom Wydrzynski is a Professor and Head of the Photobioenergetics Group at the ANU (Australian National University) School of Biology where he conducts research on natural and artificial photosynthesis. He is on the Editorial Boards of Photosynthesis Research and Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics. Professor Wydrzynski received his BA in Biology from the University of Missouri at St. Louis and a PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He subsequently held research posts at the Max Volmer Institute for Biophysical and Physical Chemistry in Berlin, the Standard Oil Company of Indiana (AMOCO Corporation) in Illinois, and the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in California.

Associate Professor Hillier has authored over forty journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings. He has also presented his work at a variety of international conferences. Warwick Hillier has a PhD from the ANU and has been a visiting scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, USA and a NIH Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Deptartment of Chemistry at Michigan State University. Warwick Hillier is currently an Associate Professor at the ANU (Australian National University) School of Biology. He works on natural and artificial photosynthesis using spectroscopy and molecular biology to study basic problems in electron and proton transfer reactions.