Ciencia Puerto Rico

The goal is to optimize the charge transport coupling between light absorbers and catalysts, and between the light absorbers of the fuel forming and water oxidation half reactions for future construction of an efficient and stable photoelectrosynthetic device and/or prototype.

Efficient and robust interfaces are essential for building complete macroscale artificial photosystems that maximize the conversion of photon energy into chemical energy in fuel. We focus on the development of interfaces that are chemically stable under catalytic conditions, do not adversely affect the properties of the light absorbers and catalysts, and produce low loss of chemical and electrical potential. For all the various types of materials (covalent, ionic; molecular, nano-, microstructured) the Nate Lewis group through JCAP light capture and interface projects are focused on the development of well defined, energy matched linkages between the light absorbers and catalysts for both the oxidative and reductive sides of the system.