SOLAR-ENERGY STORAGE REACTIONS INVOLVING POLYNUCLEAR RHODIUM ISOCYANIDE COMPLEXES - FLASH-PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES IN AQUEOUS SULFURIC-ACID SOLUTIONS

We have recently reported that 546-nm irradiation of solutions of the binuclear Rh(I) complex Rh2(bridge)4 2+(bridge = 1,3-diisocyanopropane) in concentrated HX(aq) results in clean conversion to H2and Rh2(bridge)4X2 2+(X = Cl, Br).2Since these reactions are driven by visible photons, they represent one way of achieving conversion of solar to chemical energy. Recent work in our laboratory has shown that a thermal reaction between Rh2(bridge)4 2+and HCI generates a blue photoactive species, [Rh2(bridge)4Cl2+]n,and hydrogen. Irradiation of [Rh2(bridge)4Cl2+]nproduces the ultimate products, according to the following scheme. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.