抄録
Solar energy is a more abundant source of energy than any other source. Many researchers consider solar generation of fuels (stored in the form of chemical bonds such as hydrogen from water and methanol from CO2) as the best and essential solution for saving the Earth, yet sunlight-driven water splitting or CO2 reduction to methanol/ methane remains a formidable problem. In this review we present our personal views about what we need to pursue as chemists who are interested in coordination chemistry and theoretical chemistry in the upcoming decade in order to develop efficient and robust catalysts for water splitting and CO2 reduction, search for sustainable pathways for energy generation, and contribute to the most important yet challenging problem facing the world in this century. We focus our discussion on the following three subjects: (1) Water oxidation by ruthenium molecular catalysts instead of the manganese O2-forming clusters in Photosystem II; (2) H2 production and oxidation by catalysts containing inexpensive metals; and (3) Photogeneration of renewable hydride donors, carriers of a proton and two electrons, to replace the NADP+/NADPH coenzyme for the reduction of CO2 and related species.
