• HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
Thursday, August 28, 2025
BIOENGINEER.ORG
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EXPLORE
    • CAREER
      • Companies
      • Jobs
        • Lecturer
        • PhD Studentship
        • Postdoc
        • Research Assistant
    • EVENTS
    • iGEM
      • News
      • Team
    • PHOTOS
    • VIDEO
    • WIKI
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • TWITTER
No Result
View All Result
Bioengineer.org
No Result
View All Result
Home NEWS Science News Chemistry

Boosted photocatalysis for hydrogen evolution: Reactant supply thru phosphonate groups

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
January 21, 2021
in Chemistry
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on RedditShare on Telegram

IMAGE

Credit: Copyright © 2020 Yosuke Kageshima, Shinshu University

Water splitting research for solar hydrogen production has focused on physical processes inside the semiconductor, such as light absorption, charge separation, and chemical processes on the surface that are highly complex and rely on the development of new materials. However, processes inside the solution had yet to be thoroughly explored.

One recent approach to improve photocatalytic hydrogen production was proposed by loading phosphonate groups on the surface of the visible-light-responsive photocatalyst lanthanum and rhodium-doped strontium titanate (La,Rh:STO) with a silane coupling agent. The phosphonate functional group functions as a mediator of proton supply (i.e., promotes the supply of reactants) and improves hydrogen production activity.

There have been examples of research using unbuffered electrolyte or phosphate buffer solution as reaction solution in photocatalytic water splitting reaction. However, the former is mostly an electrostatic interaction between photocatalytic material and ions in the solution, while the latter focuses on the function of the phosphate anion as a proton mediator. These are equivalent to the design of bulk electrolyte.

The concept proposed in this study is neither development of the material itself nor design of the bulk electrolyte, but design of the electrolyte-photocatalyst interface: a new concept that enables control of physicochemical phenomena in solution, especially in the vicinity of the catalyst surface via functional groups immobilized on the photocatalyst powder surface. The phosphonate functional groups immobilized on the surface of the powdered photocatalyst effectively supply protons to the active site. The phosphonate functional groups immobilized on the surface of the powdered photocatalyst contribute to the enhancement of hydrogen production activity by functioning as mediators to effectively supply protons to the active site.

To the delight of lead researcher Yosuke Kageshima, when the bulk phosphate buffer solution was used as the reaction solution, the hydrogen production activity of La,Rh:STO was greatly reduced. Although it is common to focus on the function of phosphate anions as proton mediators, the approach of immobilizing functional groups near the solid-liquid interface can be a broad-ranging methodology that is effective regardless of the materials used.

Further improvement of activity by increasing the concentration of phosphonate functional groups immobilized on the surface will be explored in further studies. Detailed quantitative evaluation of the diffusion process of phosphonate functional groups are needed as well as expansion for use in overall water decomposition reaction. Assistant Professor Kageshima hopes to construct a stand-alone artificial photosynthesis device that contributes to the realization of a low-carbon society through the practical application of solar hydrogen production, which converts solar energy into chemical energy that is advantageous for storage and transportation.

###

Shinshu University has recently been involved in a string of breakthroughs in photocatalytic hydrogen production through water splitting with solar energy. Please read Solar hydrogen production for more information.

This study was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

The original paper in Angewandete Chemie:

Boosted Hydrogen Evolution Kinetics Over Particulate Lanthanum and Rhodium?Doped Strontium Titanate Photocatalysts Modified with Phosphonate Groups

Media Contact
Hitomi Thompson
[email protected]

Related Journal Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202011705

Tags: Chemistry/Physics/Materials SciencesEnergy/Fuel (non-petroleum)Materials
Share12Tweet8Share2ShareShareShare2

Related Posts

Wayne State Study Advances Quality of Life for Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes

Wayne State Study Advances Quality of Life for Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes

August 27, 2025
Wayne State Researchers Pioneer Advances to Enhance Quality of Life for Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes

Wayne State Researchers Pioneer Advances to Enhance Quality of Life for Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes

August 27, 2025

Electrostatic Map Reveals Non-Covalent Metal–Organic Frameworks

August 27, 2025

Widespread Metal, Extraordinary Potential Unveiled

August 27, 2025
Please login to join discussion

POPULAR NEWS

  • blank

    Breakthrough in Computer Hardware Advances Solves Complex Optimization Challenges

    149 shares
    Share 60 Tweet 37
  • Molecules in Focus: Capturing the Timeless Dance of Particles

    142 shares
    Share 57 Tweet 36
  • New Drug Formulation Transforms Intravenous Treatments into Rapid Injections

    115 shares
    Share 46 Tweet 29
  • Neuropsychiatric Risks Linked to COVID-19 Revealed

    82 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21

About

We bring you the latest biotechnology news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Follow us

Recent News

Calorie Restriction Alters p62 Protein in Irradiated Mice

Mapping Urban Gullies in Congo Revealed

Exome Sequencing and Polygenic Risk in Kidney Health

  • Contact Us

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Home Page 1
    • Home Page 2
  • News
  • National
  • Business
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science

Bioengineer.org © Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.