Themed collection Bunsentagung 2016: Basic Mechanisms in Energy Conversion

This themed collection reports on recent progress in the development of technologies, methods, materials and reactions for energy conversion with a particular focus on basic mechanisms.

The unprecedented polarisation dependent excited state dynamics of iridium photosensitisers: new features of a well-known dye family.

Broadband transient absorption spectroscopy reveals an increased carrier recombination rate constant of low-dimensional perovskites.

On TiO₂ P25, CO is not an intermediate in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction; instead, a mechanism involving C₂ intermediates is likely.

The Pt(331) surface has long been known to be the most active pure metal electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media.

We present in our manuscript the full path from concept to characterization, optimization and application of thermoelectric pastes.

Applying isotope labelling studies it is demonstrated that CO₂ is the main source for MeOH formation from CO₂/CO/H₂ mixtures on Au/ZnO.

The generation of reactive oxygen species has been assumed to occur during the charging reaction of lithium-oxygen batteries with organic electrolytes. Here we show independently by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy that superoxide is also formed and released into the solution during the discharge reaction.

Insight into the factors that favor metal–hydride interactions in NiFe-hydrogenase models is obtained through X-ray spectroscopic and quantum chemical studies.

Integration of Pt-nanoparticles between ZnO used as a photo absorber and FTO results in higher IPCE values as compared to ZnO films deposited on unmodified FTO.

The role of solvent interactions in H₂-storage/delivery in the carbon dioxide–formic acid couple.

To achieve an overall efficient solar water splitting device, not only the efficiencies of photo-converter and catalyst are decisive, but also their appropriate coupling must be considered.

Fundamental differences between synthetic manganese clusters and the biological water oxidizing catalyst are demonstrated in the modulation of their redox potential by redox-inactive cations.

Summary of photocurrent vs. time and (inset) total theoretical H₂ generated for the 7 different NiO electrodes compared in this study.

To reduce energy losses in water electrolysers a fundamental understanding of the water oxidation reaction steps is necessary to design efficient oxygen evolution catalysts.

Charge carrier dynamics in pure Ba₅Ta₄O₁₅ and in a Ba₅Ta₄O₁₅–Ba₃Ta₅O₁₅ composite have been studied by means of diffuse reflectance laser flash photolysis spectroscopy in the presence and absence of methanol.