Abstract

This contribution describes recent progress made with the design, synthesis and evaluation of supramolecular architectures for artificial photosynthesis. Emphasis is on the possible introduction of antiparallel redox gradients into the co-axial hole- and electron-transporting channels of supramolecular n/p-heterojunctions, and on directional, uniform axial and alternate lateral self-sorting to get there. Recent results suggest that two-component gradients in both channels are sufficient for photoinduced charge separation over very long distances. Removal of one gradient leads to charge recombination at the usual critical distances, inversion of both gradients causes photocurrent inhibition. These promising results call for user-friendly, cheap and fast approaches to oriented multicomponent architectures on solid surfaces. However, the reduction of efforts devoted to covalent organic synthesis will have to be compensated by the development of strategic concepts on the supramolecular level to tackle basic questions such as self-sorting on surfaces.

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Authors

Lista M, Areephong J, Orentas E, Charbonnaz P, Sakai N, Matile S

Institution

Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Source

Faraday discussions 155: 2012 pg 63-77; discussion 103-14

MeSH

Bioelectric Energy Sources
Biofuels
Chemical Engineering
Electron Transport
Electrons
Green Chemistry Technology
Models, Molecular
Oxidation-Reduction
Photochemistry
Photosynthesis
Solar Energy
Static Electricity
Sunlight

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22470967