2298
Charge-Transfer and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production By Hydrogenase Photobiohybrids

Monday, 25 May 2015: 10:20
Conference Room 4H (Hilton Chicago)
P. W. King, K. A. Brown, D. W. Mulder, M. W. Ratzloff (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), and C. Lubner (University of Colorado, Boulder)
Hydrogenases are metalloenzymes that catalyze H2 activation at of ≥104 s-1 using base metals (Fe, Ni, S) and a polypeptide framework. Understanding the structural properties of hydrogenases, including the cataltyic site cofactors, has provided inspiration for designing highly functional synthetic catalysts. We have been invetigating hydrogenase structure-function and use as electrocatalysts on nanostructured electrodes, and photocatalysts in solution-phase assemblies with nanomaterials. In both cases, the hydrogenase provides the catalytic power for converting photo(electro)chemical energy into H2. The chemistry of (nano)materials can be used control their physical and molecular properties over a wide-range of energy and size scales for integrating with the catalytic and sturctural propeties of hydrogenases. As a result, the biohybrid complexes are being investigated as models to determine how material compositions, charge-transfer interfaces and bulk properties affect the mechanisms that support photocatalysis. A summary of our recent progress in this area of research will be presented.