A Study of Energy Conversion Devices Using Photoactive Organometallic Electrocatalysts.
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to examine the feasibility of the use of transition metal hexakis arylisocyanide complexes confined to polymeric thin films in solar energy conversion systems. The chemical systems of interest were chromium, molybdenum and tungsten arylisocyanide complexes which had been previously examined in terms of their solution spectroscopy and photochemistry and had been found to have rather long excited state lifetimes. Since we had shown that charge transfer complexes in thin polymer films supported on electrode surfaces were viable routes to solar energy conversion composites, we chose to extend our studies to include these more promising complexes. The goals of the project then became threefold: 1) examine the thermodynamics and kinetics of charge transfer in the systems in which we had shown feasibility (polymeric ferrocenes) so as to understand the physical phenomena which were liable to control the overall efficiency and turnover numbers for the polymer bound photoelectrocatalysts, 2) further characterize the electrochemistry and physical inorganic chemistry of the more promising Cr, Mo and W hexakis arylisocyanide photoelectrocatalysts, and 3) examine ways by which these MLCT complexes could be entrapped in various polymer matrices. We were not successful in finding a strategy by which these MLCT complexes could be reliably confined to a polymeric thin film supported on an inert electrode material while maintaining the electroactivity required to function as a photoelectochemical catalyst.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA169096
Entities
People
- John F. Evans
- Kent R. Mann
Organizations
- University of Minnesota