Fernando Fresno

Unravelling the photoredox pathways in CO2 photoreduction by artificial photosynthesis

Photocatalytic solar-energy conversion for energetic and environmental applications is one of the most important challenges or this century. An interesting route for the valorization of CO2 and H2 production consists on its photocatalytic conversion into fuels and/or chemicals in the presence of water and suited photocatalysts; this process is also known as Artificial Photosynthesis (AP). Extensive efforts are focused on improving the photocatalytic efficiencies, especially when using water as the electron donor. The design and development of efficient, robust and low cost light harvesting materials is crucial in the achievement industrially competitive photocatalysts. Nonetheless, the structural and optoelectronic nature of these materials, both fundamental and excited states, and the role that they play in combination with reaction intermediates within the photocatalytic mechanism remains unclear [1].