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U.S. Department of Energy
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Investigation of fuel production using metalloporphyrin-based complexes as catalysts and electron-transfer intermediates: Annual report, April 1987--December 1988

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6201024· OSTI ID:6201024

Metalloporphyrins have appropriate properties for photosensitizing and catalysts solar energy storage reactions. Fundamental spectroscopic studies of metalloporphyrins and related enzymes that carry out C/sub 1/ chemistry can identify the factors controlling reactivity of the metal complexes. Research has concentrated on mimicking biological methanogenesis through investigation of the enzyme methylreductase, which carries out the final step in the reduction of Co/sub 2/ to methane. Transient and difference Raman spectroscopies were used to investigate the structural features of methylreductase, its nickel-hydrocorphin Cofactor F/sub 430/, and hydrocorphin and porphrin analogs of the active nickel complex. in particular, axial ligation at the nickel site was evaluated under a variety of conditions with the goal of elucidating the mechanism of methane synthesis. Studies of the tin-and antimony-porphyrin photoredox cycles were also carried out as possible solar-driven sources of reductant for biomimetic methane generation. 1 ref., 1 fig.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6201024
Report Number(s):
SAND-89-0269; GRI-89/0040; ON: DE89011321
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English