Photoinduced Electron Transfer Research to Build Model Compounds of Artificial Photosynthesis and Solar Energy Conversion

Abstract

In this article various novel synthesized dyads and triad systems containing organic based electron donor and acceptor compounds linked together by flexible and rigid spacers have been described which undergo very fast (~ps) charge separation reactions and relatively slow energy destructive charge recombination. Various techniques have been discussed to enhance the survival duration of the charge-separated products, resulted from photoinduced electron transfer reactions, by retarding the energy wasting charge recombination process. It has been hinted that these systems should form the basis of future artificial photosynthetic and solar energy conversion devices.

Photoinduced Charge Separation and Recombination in Acridine−Triarylamine-Based Redox Cascades

“…Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) processes along redox cascades are of fundamental relevance in biology (e.g., photosynthesis) − and in artificial devices such as dye sensitized (in)organic solar cells (DSSC) − or solar cells based on semiconducting organic polymers. − In order to study electron and hole transfer processes, many systems close to nature (biomimetic) − as well as many completely artificial ones − have been synthesized. Many if not most of these artificial systems comprise either C 60 ,− as the electron acceptor (because it can easily be reduced and has a low reorganization energy) or (metallo)porphyrine subunits ,,,,,− as electron donors because they mimic the naturally occurring chlorophyll properties so nicely.…”