Denys Shevchenko

Photochemical water oxidation with visible light using a cobalt containing catalyst

Artificial photosynthesis aims at using solar light energy to oxidatively split water to oxygen, protons and electrons and store the energy in a chemical fuel. Here we present a cobalt phosphonate material that can split water catalytically, driven by visible light in aqueous solutions of pH 7.

Approaches for the analysis of low molecular weight compounds with laser desorption/ionization techniques and mass spectrometry

This review summarizes various approaches for the analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds by different laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry techniques (LDI-MS). It is common to use an agent to assist the ionization, and small molecules are normally difficult to analyze by, e.g., matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using the common matrices available today, because the latter are generally small organic compounds themselves. This often results in severe suppression of analyte peaks, or interference of the matrix and analyte signals in the low mass region. However, intrinsic properties of several LDI techniques such as high sensitivity, low sample consumption, high tolerance towards salts and solid particles, and rapid analysis have stimulated scientists to develop methods to circumvent matrix-related issues in the analysis of LMW molecules. Recent developments within this field as well as historical considerations and future prospects are presented in this review.

Water oxidation by manganese oxides formed from tetranuclear precursor complexes: the influence of phosphate on structure and activity

Two types of manganese oxides have been prepared by hydrolysis of tetranuclear Mn(iii) complexes in the presence or absence of phosphate ions. The oxides have been characterized structurally using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and functionally by O2 evolution measurements. The structures of the oxides prepared in the absence of phosphate are dominated by di-μ-oxo bridged manganese ions that form layers with limited long-range order, consisting of edge-sharing MnO6 octahedra. The average manganese oxidation state is +3.5. The structure of these oxides is closely related to other manganese oxides reported as water oxidation catalysts. They show high oxygen evolution activity in a light-driven system containing [Ru(bpy)3](2+) and S2O8(2-) at pH 7. In contrast, the oxides formed by hydrolysis in the presence of phosphate ions contain almost no di-μ-oxo bridged manganese ions. Instead the phosphate groups are acting as bridges between the manganese ions. The average oxidation state of manganese ions is +3. This type of oxide has much lower water oxidation activity in the light-driven system. Correlations between different structural motifs and the function as a water oxidation catalyst are discussed and the lower activity in the phosphate containing oxide is linked to the absence of protonable di-μ-oxo bridges.

Towards a comprehensive X-ray approach for studying the photosynthetic manganese complex–XANES, Kα/Kβ/Kβ-satellite emission lines, RIXS, and comparative computational approaches for selected model complexes

Advanced X-ray spectroscopy experiments can contribute to elucidation of the mechanism of water oxidation in biological (tetra-manganese complex of Photosystem II) and artificial systems. Although the electronic structure of the catalytic metal site is of high interest, it is experimentally not easily accessible. Therefore, we and other researchers are working towards a comprehensive approach involving a combination of methods, namely (1) quantitative analysis of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra collected at the K-edge and, in the long run, at the L-edge of manganese; (2) high-resolution X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) of Kα and Kβ lines, (3) two-dimensional resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra. Collection of these spectroscopic data sets requires state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation facilities as well as experimental strategies to minimize the radiation-induced modifications of the samples. Data analysis requires the use and development of appropriate theoretical tools. Here, we present exemplary data collected for three multi-nuclear synthetic Mn complexes with the Mn ions in the oxidation states II, III, and IV, and for MnVII of the permanganate ion. Emission spectra are calculated for the MnVII ion using both multiple-scattering (MS) approach and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT).

Direct synthesis of an heterometallic {MnII3CrIII4} wheel by decomposition of Reineckes salt

A new heterometallic Mn/Cr molecular wheel complex has been synthesized using zerovalent manganese, Reineckes salt, ammonium thiocyanate and triethanolamine (H(3)tea) as starting materials. The compound [Mn(3)Cr(4)(NCS)(6)(Htea)(6)] (1) has been characterized in terms of its electrochemical, IR and EPR spectroscopic as well as its magnetic properties. The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization data were treated simultaneously during the optimization routine and resulted in J(Mn-Cr) = +0.43 cm(-1), J(Cr-Cr) = -4.75 cm(-1), J(Mn-Mn) = +1.78 cm(-1), g(eff) = 1.878 with the ground state S = 15/2.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Comparison of In Situ Photoelectrochemical Polymerization in Aqueous Micellar and Organic Media

Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (sDSCs) are devoid of such issues as electrolyte evaporation or leakage and electrode corrosion, which are typical for traditional liquid electrolyte-based DSCs. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is one of the most popular and efficient p-type conducting polymers that are used in sDSCs as a solid-state hole-transporting material. The most convenient way to deposit this insoluble polymer into the dye-sensitized mesoporous working electrode is in situ photoelectrochemical polymerization. Apparently, the structure and the physicochemical properties of the generated conducting polymer, which determine the photovoltaic performance of the corresponding solar cell, can be significantly affected by the preparation conditions. Therefore, a simple and fast analytical method that can reveal information on polymer chain length, possible chemical modifications, and impurities is strongly required for the rapid development of efficient solar energy-converting devices. In this contribution, we applied matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) for the analysis of PEDOT directly on sDSCs. It was found that the PEDOT generated in aqueous micellar medium possesses relatively shorter polymeric chains than the PEDOT deposited from an organic medium. Furthermore, the micellar electrolyte promotes a transformation of one of the thiophene terminal units to thiophenone. The introduction of a carbonyl group into the PEDOT molecule impedes the growth of the polymer chain and reduces the conductivity of the final polymer film. Both the simplicity of sample preparation (only application of the organic matrix onto the solar cell is needed) and the rapidity of analysis hold the promise of making MALDI MS an essential tool for the physicochemical characterization of conducting polymer-based sDSCs.

Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of dye-sensitized solar cells: identification of the dye-electrolyte interaction

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have great potential to provide sustainable electricity from sunlight. The photoanode in DSCs consists of a dye-sensitized metal oxide film deposited on a conductive substrate. This configuration makes the photoanode a perfect sample for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). We applied LDI-MS for the study of molecular interactions between a dye and electrolyte on the surface of a TiO2 photoanode. We found that a dye containing polyoxyethylene groups forms complexes with alkali metal cations from the electrolyte, while a dye substituted with alkoxy groups does not. Guanidinium ion forms adducts with neither of the two dyes.

Quantitative determination of the Ru(bpy)32+ cation in photochemical reactions by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The coordination compound of Ru(II) with three 2,2′-bipyridine ligands possesses a potent photosensitization capacity for electron- and energy-transfer processes. In combination with salts of peroxydisulfate acid as sacrificial electron acceptors, Ru(bpy)32+ is widely used for photocatalytic oxidative transformations in organic synthesis and water splitting. The drawback of this system is that bipyridine degrades under the resulting strongly oxidative conditions, the concentration of Ru(bpy)32+ diminishes, and the photocatalytic reaction eventually stops. A commonly employed assay for the determination of Ru(bpy)32+, UV-Vis spectroscopy, has low selectivity and does not distinguish between the intact complex and its decayed forms. Here, we report a matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometric method for the quantitative analysis of Ru(bpy)32+ in photochemical reaction mixtures. The developed method was successfully used for the determination of intact Ru(bpy)32+ during the course of the water photooxidation reaction. The significant difference between the results of MALDI MS and UV-Vis analyses was observed.