Recent progresses in molecular-based artificial photosynthesis

Bio-inspired artificial photosynthesis aims to produce high-energy content chemicals from raw materials using solar energy and molecular components. Key molecular components include antenna, reaction centers, and catalysts. Recent results indicate the convenient use of: (i) suitable arrangements of several mononuclear species to obtain highly efficient catalysts for water oxidation, (ii) aromatics as components in ethylene-based bridging ligands connecting photosensitizer and catalyst subunits in supramolecular photocatalysts for CO2 reduction, so removing some limitation to suitable bridging ligand design, and (iii) photosensitizers based on earth-abundant metal complexes as photosensitizers in multicomponent schemes.