Experts attempting to create more effective solar power supplies have turned to ruthenium catalysts in an effort to imitate photosynthesis.

Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory are designing catalysts that are inspired by photosynthesis, using molecular complexes containing metals such as ruthenium.

The ruthenium is used to provoke the transformation of water into oxygen, protons and electrons, to create a completely environmentally-friendly energy supply.

Brookhaven chemists James Muckerman and Dmitry Polyansky explained that the ruthenium catalysts are used to hold water molecules in place so that oxygen bonds are created, while the protons and electrons are transferred among the molecules and the catalyst.

This transfer of protons and electrons is what creates the charges to continue the photosynthesis process, the experts explained.

"The aim of our work is to understand how theses catalysts work and to elucidate the detailed mechanistic steps so we can design better catalysts," explained Mr Muckerman.

Sources:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-03/dnl-ndi032707.php

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