Metal complexes for catalysis
We design, synthesise and study metal-based catalysts to understand and improve key redox reactions, with a particular focus on the mechanisms underlying water oxidation.
Redox reactions, a process during which electrons are transferred, are essential to both chemistry and biology: they drive energy conversion, catalysis and many natural processes. Transition metal complexes are key players in these reactions because they can easily switch between different oxidation states. Understanding how electron transfer works in these systems is crucial for designing new catalysts that enable efficient and sustainable chemical transformations.
Biological context
In living organisms, metalloenzymes use metal centres with carefully arranged ligands to perform highly controlled redox reactions, such as electron transport, oxygen binding and photosynthesis. The active sites of these enzymes harbor precisely tailored ligands around metal centers, enabling intricate redox reactions with remarkable efficiency and specificity.
Aim
Our research focuses on developing and studying metal coordination complexes for catalytic applications, with particular interest in water oxidation. By designing, synthesising and testing new metal-based catalysts, we aim to understand how critical steps, such as the formation of the oxygen–oxygen (O–O) bond, take place, and how these insights can lead to improved catalytic systems.