An engineered polypeptide around nano-sized manganese-calcium oxide: copying plants for water oxidation

Dalton Trans. 2015 Sep 14;44(34):15271-8. doi: 10.1039/c5dt01443c.

Abstract

Synthesis of new efficient catalysts inspired by Nature is a key goal in the production of clean fuel. Different compounds based on manganese oxide have been investigated in order to find their water-oxidation activity. Herein, we introduce a novel engineered polypeptide containing tyrosine around nano-sized manganese-calcium oxide, which was shown to be a highly active catalyst toward water oxidation at low overpotential (240 mV), with high turnover frequency of 1.5 × 10(-2) s(-1) at pH = 6.3 in the Mn(III)/Mn(IV) oxidation range. The compound is a novel structural and efficient functional model for the water-oxidizing complex in Photosystem II. A new proposed clever strategy used by Nature in water oxidation is also discussed. The new model of the water-oxidizing complex opens a new perspective for synthesis of efficient water-oxidation catalysts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Calcium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Manganese / chemistry*
  • Manganese Compounds / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Photosynthesis
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Tyrosine / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Calcium Compounds
  • Manganese Compounds
  • Oxides
  • Peptides
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Plant Proteins
  • Water
  • Tyrosine
  • Manganese
  • manganese oxide
  • lime
  • Oxygen
  • Calcium