Research Projects

The increasing global energy demand necessitates the development of innovative, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective processes, devices, and alternatives to petroleum-based chemical industries for sustainable growth in developing countries like India. Artificial photosynthesis, specifically photocatalytic H2 generation, is an attractive approach, with Grätzel type photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) being the most commonly used device. The quest for innovative design of new molecules and materials as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized photocatalysts (DSP) for H2 production is ongoing. A singular metal-free, light harvesting antenna system incorporating covalently connected multiple chromophores for improved light harvesting through FRET has been rarely reported in literature. These multichromophoric antenna systems are expected to show broadband spectral coverage, ultrafast fast energy transfer and funneling to the central chromophore, fast exciton migration, and improved photocurrent densities. To bridge this gap, two series of biomimetic FRET antenna systems based on green (G) and blue (B) chromophores, GB and red (R), G and B chromophores RGB will be designed and synthesized with suitable functionalization for surface anchoring and catalyst attachment. The central chromophores, perylenes and styryl BODIPY, will be used due to their photochemical and thermal robustness, superior optical properties, and desired broadband spectral coverage. The comparative assessment of H2 evolution will be performed to improve understanding of best structure and device configuration and the influence of single step FRET versus sequential FRET in H2 evolution.