Photochemical water splitting via transition metal complexes

Abstract

Photochemical water splitting by transition metal complexes provides a new approach to the production of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy carrier. Several selected systems are analyzed, and the two basic half reactions in the water splitting process which generates hydrogen and the compound of water oxidation (oxygen or hydrogen peroxide) are presented. Finally, a system designed for photochemical water splitting, based on the radical and organometallic chemistry of titanocene(III), is postulated.