Akira Yamada

Hexadecafluoro- and octacyano phthalocyanines as electrocatalysts for the reduction of dioxygen

Abstract Cobalt hexadecafluoro and octacyano phthalocyanines (CoPcF 16 and CoPc(CN) 8 ), coated on graphite electrodes yield very stable electrochemical responses and serve as electrocatalysts for the reduction of dioxygen. The effects of pH and coating thickness on the electrochemistry of the CoPcF 16 and CoPc(CN) 8 coatings and on the catalyzed electroreduction of O 2 are described.

Solar energy conversion by functional polymers

3 Photoindueed Charge Separation and Electron Relay in Molecular and Polymer Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 3.1 Conversion Systems on Molecular Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3.2 Polymer Systems in Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 3.3 Polymer Systems as Solid Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 3.4 Polymer Supported Meta l Colloids as Catalyst . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-photosensitized reduction of a CoIII–Schiff base complex in a network of gelatin hydrogel and in an aqueous gelatin solution

The Ru(bpy)2+3 photosensitized reduction of a CoIII–Schiff base complex proceeds effectively in a network of gelatin hydrogel and in an aqueous gelatin solution under anaerobic conditions. In both systems, a reduced intermediate species of the CoIII complex coordinated to a gelatin molecule, which has an absorption maximum at 450 nm (R450), was initially generated. After irradiation had been stopped, R450 turned slowly to the diaqua CoII–Schiff base complex in the hydrogel system whereas it was oxidized gradually to the initial CoIII–Schiff base complex in an aqueous gelatin solution. It is suggested from the results obtained that the gelatin acts as the ligand for the CoIII complex, and both the electron donor and, probably, electron acceptor for the photosensitized reactions in both the systems.

Polymer-Metal Complexes for Solar Energy Conversion

Solar energy conversion is an attractive and important research subject, which aims at the development of permanent and clean energy. Since solar irradiation is intermittant, it is desirable to store the converted energy as a form of fuel in order to use it efficiently. For this purpose, photochemical conversion is most suited to produce fuels directly from the irradiation. It is encouraging to know that photosynthesis in green plants, which actually supports all the life on the earth, is based on photochemical processes. In the solar energy conversion research field, utilization of polymers or molecular assemblies has begun to attract much attention.1–7