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Proton-coupled electron transfer

Free radicals under control

Biological solar energy conversion requires the coordinated and rapid movement of protons and electrons through complex proteins, called reaction centres. Now, an artificial and structurally simple reaction centre has been synthesized that mimics an important, photosynthetic charge relay.

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Figure 1: The electron-transfer pathway and oxygen evolving complex (OEC) in photosystem II (ref. 6).
Figure 2: Artificial reaction centre that mimics a light-induced PCET reaction in photosystem II (ref. 5).

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Correspondence to Bridgette A. Barry.

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Barry, B. Free radicals under control. Nature Chem 6, 376–377 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1936

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