Project C07 -
Controlling the reactivity of photocatalytic hydride species


PIs: Prof. Sven Schneider, Prof. Dirk Schwarzer

C07 Controlling the reactivity of photocatalytic hydride species (Schneider, Schwarzer)

In this project, we will examine the reactivity of transition metal hydride photocatalysts to control their selectivity in photodriven multielectron/proton transformations of small molecules, e.g., CO2. The key elementary reaction step from thermalized excited states will be studied using steady-state and time-resolved, ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy, including for the first time femtosecond mid-infrared spectroscopy. Free energy relationships for photodriven proton coupled electron transfer will afford the derivation of structure-reactivity relationships and the prediction of the selectivity of solar energy conversion processes, such as CO2 reduction.