The technology of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy has attracted considerable attention as a promising next-generation method for sustainable energy production. In recent years, we reported for the first time that [PtCl(terpy)]Cl functions as a single-molecular photocatalyst, driving hydrogen evolution from water under visible-light irradiation only in the presence of the sacrificial electron donor EDTA. Following this discovery, various mononuclear platinum complexes capable of acting as single-molecular photocatalysts have since been reported. However, many challenges remain. In particular, low durability in photocatalytic reactions and limited visible-light responsiveness remain significant issues. To date, a single-molecular photocatalyst that can overcome these limitations has yet to be developed. Therefore, this study aims to develop a durable and efficient single-molecular photocatalyst with excellent visible-light responsiveness by designing novel multinuclear metal complexes and evaluating their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity.
[1] 錯体化学若手の会夏の学校2023 優秀ポスター賞
[2] 錯体化学若手の会夏の学校2024 優秀講演賞 -BCSJ Award-
[3] 24th International Conference on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy International Conference on Artificial Photosynthesis-2024 Best Poster Award -Chem. Soc. Rev. Award-
[4] 錯体化学会第74回討論会 学生講演賞 -Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers Award-
[5] 令和6年度エネルギー研究教育機構 若手研究者・博士課程学生支援プログラム 奨励賞
[6] 錯体化学若手の会九州・沖縄支部2024年度勉強会 最優秀ポスター賞
[7] 九大化学フェスタ2024 優秀講演賞
[8] 九州大学エネルギーウィーク2025 優秀ポスター賞
[9] 令和6年度九州大学修士学位記授与式 業績優秀賞 (修士課程総代)
“Diplatinum Single-Molecular Photocatalyst Capable of Driving Hydrogen Production from Water via Singlet-to-Triplet Transitions”
Toma Kunikubo, Raúl Castañeda, Muralee Murugesu, Jaclyn L. Brusso, Kosei Yamauchi, Hironobu Ozawa,* Ken Sakai*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2025, 64, e202418884. (Selected as a Hot Paper)
“A Novel Platinum-Dimer-Based Hydrogen-Evolving Molecular Photocatalyst Showing High Durability and Red-Light-Responsivity”
Toma Kunikubo
Bull. Jpn. Soc. Coord. Chem., 2025, 85, 105-106.
“Enhanced Red-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution by a Diplatinum Photocatalyst by the Larger Wavefunction Leakage of Iodide Coordinated to the Platinum Center”
Toma Kunikubo, Raúl Castañeda, Muralee Murugesu, Jaclyn L. Brusso, Kosei Yamauchi, Hironobu Ozawa,* Ken Sakai*
Chem. Rxiv., 2025, DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-23jg8.