Generation of Hydrogen and Oxygen from Water by Solar Energy Conversion

Yuriy Shapovalov, Rustam Tokpayev, Tamina Khavaza and Mikhail Nauryzbayev
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Yuriy Shapovalov: Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
Rustam Tokpayev: Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
Tamina Khavaza: Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
Mikhail Nauryzbayev: Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: Photosynthesis is considered to be one of the promising areas of cheap and environmentally friendly energy. Photosynthesis involves the process of water oxidation with the formation of molecular oxygen and hydrogen as byproducts. The aim of the present article is to review the energy (light) phase of photosynthesis based on the published X-ray studies of photosystems I and II (PS-I and PS-II). Using modern ideas about semiconductors and biological semiconductor structures, the mechanisms of H + , O 2 ↑, e − generation from water are described. At the initial stage, PS II produces hydrogen peroxide from water as a result of the photoenzymatic reaction, which is oxidized in the active center of PS-II on the Mn 4 CaO 5 cluster to form O 2 ↑, H + , e − . Mn 4+ is reduced to Mn 2+ and then oxidized to Mn 4+ with the transfer of reducing the equivalents of PS-I. The electrons formed are transported to PS-I (P 700), where the electrochemical reaction of water decomposition takes place in a two-electrode electrolysis system with the formation of gaseous oxygen and hydrogen. The proposed functioning mechanisms of PS-I and PS-II can be used in the development of environmentally friendly technologies for the production of molecular hydrogen.

Keywords: photosynthesis; photosystem I; photosystem II; Mn 4 CaO 5 cluster; photoelectrolysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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