Shunichi Fukuzumi – författare

Artificial photosynthesis, in broad terms, is the process for converting solar energy into a useful fuel for storage and mobile use, as photosynthesis in plants and algae does. Replication of the photosynthetic process would mark a significant achievement in the production of clean energy while also reducing CO2 in the atmosphere. Artificially replicating the process however, presents several challenges and thus far, extensive efforts have been devoted to water splitting to produce hydrogen as a solar fuel in heterogeneous photocatalysis. The molecular-based mimicry of the fundamental processes occurring in photosynthesis have attracted much attention including: light harvesting, charge separation, water oxidation, NAD(P)+ reduction and CO2 fixation. Each of these processes, however, have been researched separately in their respective fields of study. This book aims to provide a unified view, and future perspective, of artificial photosynthesis while discussing and reviewing all of the artificial molecular processes together. It is an ideal single-source reference for any student or early career researcher interested in the study of molecular-based artificial photosynthesis systems.

This book presents the most advanced review available of all aspects of π-electron systems, including novel structures, new synthetic protocols, chemical and physical properties, spectroscopic and computational insights, molecular engineering, device properties and physiological properties. π-Electron systems are ubiquitous in nature. Plants convert light energy into chemical energy by photosynthetic processes, in which chlorophylls and other porphyrinoids play an important role. On the one hand, research to learn about photosynthesis from nature has led to understanding of electron and energy transfer processes and to achieving artificial energy conversion systems inspired by nature. On the other hand, recent advances in organic and inorganic chemistry make it possible to construct novel π-electron systems that had never existed in nature. The authors of this book are from a variety of research fields including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science, and biology, providing a comprehensive overview of π-electron systems for a broad readership. Not only specialists but also graduate students working in π-electron systems will find the book of great interest. Throughout, the diverse potential for future fruitful applications of π-electron systems is revealed to the reader.