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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Elizabeth GibsonORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Artificial photosynthesis faces the challenge of developing visible-light-driven strategies for converting and storing solar energy in the form of fuels and high-value chemicals. In such an approach, selective fuel production often depends on the accumulation of multiple electrons at a catalytic site. However, this process is constrained by the rapid recombination of photogenerated charges and the inherently slow kinetics of multi-electron catalytic reactions, which hinder efficient charge buildup and utilization. Polyoxometalates (POMs), a tunable class of nanoscale metal oxides, have emerged as promising multi-electron acceptors due to their redox versatility and stability. Their electron storage capabilities make them attractive as both reservoirs and catalysts. In most cases, their UV-limited absorption necessitates pairing of the POM with visible-light-absorbing antennas. Advances in photosensitized POM derivatives—via electrostatic assembly, covalent bonding, or band-gap engineering—are herein detailed. Covalent hybrids, in particular, allow precise control over electron transfer. Still, a detailed understanding of photoinduced electron transfer kinetics remains limited. This perspective article explores the potential applications of POMs in solar fuel generation, emphasizing the need for kinetic insight to design efficient, visible-light-driven photocatalysts and photoelectrochemical devices.
Author(s): Cariño C, Proust A, Guillemot G, Bidi L, Blanchard S, Gibson EA, Izzet G
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Chemical Science
Year: 2025
Volume: 16
Issue: 42
Pages: 19493-19518
Print publication date: 28/11/2025
Online publication date: 02/10/2025
Acceptance date: 30/09/2025
ISSN (electronic): 2041-6539
URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC04351D
DOI: 10.1039/D5SC04351D
Data Access Statement: This perspective does not contain any original data. All the data presented in this perspective have been sourced from publicly available research studies and data published in peer-reviewed journals
