Chapter 6 - Inorganic Photochemical Synthesis

Abstract

This chapter discusses photochemical syntheses of inorganic compounds not easily obtained via other synthesis methods, organometallic compounds with novel structures, inorganic films, nanoparticles, and clean fuels such as H2. Many of the organometallic compounds and materials synthesized exhibit unique structural features and physicochemical properties. This uniqueness arises from the difference between excited-state chemistry and ground-state chemistry and from the better control of the synthesis processes. Research on water splitting to produce H2 with visible light (sunlight) has made photochemical synthesis even more attractive. In this chapter, after a brief introduction of the basic concepts and experimental methods, we highlight the various aspects of photochemical syntheses for different inorganic compounds and materials to give readers an overview of the field. Because of the limited space, we only focus on the basic ideas of inorganic photochemical synthesis.