Molecular water oxidation catalysts have been, for the first time, co-embedded with a photosensitizer into phospholipid membranes. The two dimensional assembly allows water oxidation at very low catalyst concentrations.

Artificial photosynthesis is one of the big scientific challenges of today. Self-assembled dynamic interfaces, such as vesicles or micelles, have been used as microreactors to mimic biological photosynthesis. These aggregates can help to overcome typical problems of homogeneous photocatalytic water splitting. Microheterogeneous environments organize catalyst-photosensitizer assemblies at the interface in close proximity and thus enhance intermolecular interactions. Thereby vesicles and micelles may promote photoinitiated charge separation and suppress back electron transfer. The dynamic self-assembled interfaces solubilize non-polar compounds and protect sensitive catalytic units and intermediates against degradation. In addition, vesicles provide compartmentation that was used to separate different redox environments needed for an overall water splitting system. This Minireview provides an overview of the applications of micellar and vesicular microheterogeneous systems for solar energy conversion by photosensitized water oxidation and hydrogen generation.

Amphiphilic ruthenium complexes immobilised on bare silica gel are an easily prepared heterogeneous system for photocatalytic and chemical water oxidation.

Artificial Photosynthesis at Dynamic Self-Assembled Interfaces in Water -[applications of micellar and vesicular microheterogeneous systems for solar energy conversion by photosensitized water oxidation and hydrogen generation; 44 refs.]. -(HANSEN, M.; TROPPMANN, S.; KOENIG* BURKHARD; Chem. -Eur. J. 22 (2016) 1, 58-72, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201503712 ; Inst. Org. Chem., Univ. Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany; Eng.) -Schramke 11-270

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