How light-harvesting semiconductors can alter the bias of reversible electrocatalysts in favor of H2 production and CO2 reduction

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Oct 9;135(40):15026-32. doi: 10.1021/ja4042675. Epub 2013 Sep 26.

Abstract

The most efficient catalysts for solar fuel production should operate close to reversible potentials, yet possess a bias for the fuel-forming direction. Protein film electrochemical studies of Ni-containing carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and [NiFeSe]-hydrogenase, each a reversible electrocatalyst, show that the electronic state of the electrode strongly biases the direction of electrocatalysis of CO2/CO and H(+)/H2 interconversions. Attached to graphite electrodes, these enzymes show high activities for both oxidation and reduction, but there is a marked shift in bias, in favor of CO2 or H(+) reduction, when the respective enzymes are attached instead to n-type semiconductor electrodes constructed from CdS and TiO2 nanoparticles. This catalytic rectification effect can arise for a reversible electrocatalyst attached to a semiconductor electrode if the electrode transforms between semiconductor- and metallic-like behavior across the same narrow potential range (<0.25 V) that the electrocatalytic current switches between oxidation and reduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / chemistry
  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Biomimetics / instrumentation
  • Biomimetics / methods*
  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Electrochemistry
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Hydrogenase / chemistry
  • Hydrogenase / metabolism
  • Light*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multienzyme Complexes / chemistry
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photosynthesis
  • Protein Conformation
  • Semiconductors*

Substances

  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Hydrogen
  • nickel-iron-selenium hydrogenase
  • Hydrogenase
  • Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
  • carbon monoxide dehydrogenase