Charge-separation in panchromatic, vertically positioned bis(donor styryl)BODIPY-aluminum(iii) porphyrin-fullerene supramolecular triads

Microwave-assisted synthesis, photochemical and electrochemical studies of long-wavelength BODIPY dyes

Novel BODIPY derivatives possessing different styryl substituents were synthesized using different methods of Knoevenagel-type condensation with conventional heating and microwave radiation in two conditions. Microwave-assisted synthesis significantly reduces reaction time while enhancing its efficiency. The introduction of styryl substituents at the 3 and 5 positions of the BODIPY core resulted in a substantial bathochromic shift, which was affected by the substituents within styryl groups. Depending on the solvents, the BODIPY with unsubstituted styryl groups possesses absorption maxima (λAbs) between 616 and 626 nm. While the analogs containing electron-donating methoxy and methylthio groups exhibited bathochromically shifted bands with λAbs values in the 633-654 nm range. Fluorescence studies revealed intensive emission of tested BODIPYs with fluorescence quantum yields at the 0.41-0.83 range. On the other hand, singlet oxygen quantum yields were very low. In the electrochemical studies, the CV and DPV scans showed the presence of three redox processes. The calculated electrochemical gaps were in the range of 1.71-1.87 V.

Multimodular Wide-Band Capturing Nanohybrids: Role of Carbon Nanotubes in Slowing Charge Recombination in Supramolecular C60-BisstyrylBODIPY-(Zinc Porphyrin)2 Donor-Acceptor Molecular Cleft

The importance of diameter-sorted single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) noncovalently bound to a donor-acceptor molecular cleft, 1, in prolonging the lifetime of charge-separated states is successfully demonstrated. For this, using a multistep synthetic procedure, a wide-band capturing, multimodular, C60-bisstyrylBODIPY-(zinc porphyrin)2, molecular cleft 1, was newly synthesized and shown to bind diameter-sorted SWCNTs. The molecular cleft and its supramolecular assemblies were characterized by a suite of physicochemical techniques. Free-energy calculations suggested that both the (6,5) and (7,6) SWCNTs bound to 1 act as hole acceptors during the photoinduced sequential electron transfer events. Consequently, selective excitation of 1 in 1:SWCNT hybrids revealed a two-step electron transfer, leading to the formation of charge-separated states. Due to the distant separation of the cation and anion radical species within the supramolecules, improved lifetimes of the charge-separated states could be achieved. The present supramolecular strategy of improving charge separation involving SWCNTs and donor-acceptor molecular clefts highlights the potential application of these hybrid materials for various light energy harvesting and optoelectronic applications.

Symmetry breaking charge transfer leading to charge separation in a far-red absorbing bisstyryl-BODIPY dimer

Symmetry breaking charge transfer is one of the important photo-events occurring in photosynthetic reaction centers that is responsible for initiating electron transfer leading to a long-lived charge-separated state and has been successfully employed in light-to-electricity converting optoelectronic devices. In the present study, we report a newly synthesized, far-red absorbing and emitting BODIPY-dimer to undergo symmetry-breaking charge transfer leading to charge-separated states of appreciable lifetimes in polar solvents. Compared to its monomer analog, both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence originating from the S1 state of the dimer revealed quenching which increased with an increase in solvent polarity. The electrostatic potential map from DFT and the time-dependent DFT calculations suggested the existence of a quadrupolar type charge transfer state in polar solvents, and the singlet excited state to be involved in the charge separation process. The electrochemically determined redox gap being smaller than the energy of the S1 state supported the thermodynamic feasibility of the envisioned symmetry-breaking charge transfer and separation. The spectrum of the charge-separated state arrived from spectroelectrochemical studies, revealing diagnostic peaks helpful for transient spectral interpretation. Finally, ultrafast transient pump-probe spectroscopy provided conclusive evidence of diabatic charge separation in polar solvents by far-red pulsed laser light irradiation. The measured lifetime of the final charge-separated states was found to be 165 ps in dichlorobenzene, 140 ps in benzonitrile, and 43 ps in dimethyl sulfoxide, revealing their significance in light energy harvesting, especially from the less-explored far-red region.

Recent advances in supramolecular fullerene chemistry

Fullerene chemistry has come a long way since 1990, when the first bulk production of C60 was reported. In the past decade, progress in supramolecular chemistry has opened some remarkable and previously unexpected opportunities regarding the selective (multiple) functionalization of fullerenes and their (self)assembly into larger structures and frameworks. The purpose of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of these recent developments. We describe how macrocycles and cages that bind strongly to C60 can be used to block undesired addition patterns and thus allow the selective preparation of single-isomer addition products. We also discuss how the emergence of highly shape-persistent macrocycles has opened opportunities for the study of photoactive fullerene dyads and triads as well as the preparation of mechanically interlocked compounds. The preparation of two- or three-dimensional fullerene materials is another research area that has seen remarkable progress over the past few years. Due to the rapidly decreasing price of C60 and C70, we believe that these achievements will translate into all fields where fullerenes have traditionally (third-generation solar cells) and more recently been applied (catalysis, spintronics).

Panchromatic Light-Capturing Bis-styryl BODIPY-Perylenediimide Donor-Acceptor Constructs: Occurrence of Sequential Energy Transfer Followed by Electron Transfer

Two wide-band-capturing donor-acceptor conjugates featuring bis-styrylBODIPY and perylenediimide (PDI) have been newly synthesized, and the occurrence of ultrafast excitation transfer from the 1 PDI* to BODIPY, and a subsequent electron transfer from the 1 BODIPY* to PDI have been demonstrated. Optical absorption studies revealed panchromatic light capture but offered no evidence of ground-state interactions between the donor and acceptor entities. Steady-state fluorescence and excitation spectral recordings provided evidence of singlet-singlet energy transfer in these dyads, and quenched fluorescence of bis-styrylBODIPY emission in the dyads suggested additional photo-events. The facile oxidation of bis-styrylBODIPY and facile reduction of PDI, establishing their relative roles of electron donor and acceptor, were borne out by electrochemical studies. The electrostatic potential surfaces of the S1 and S2 states, derived from time-dependent DFT calculations, supported excited charge transfer in these dyads. Spectro-electrochemical studies on one-electron-oxidized and one-electron-reduced dyads and the monomeric precursor compounds were also performed in a thin-layer optical cell under corresponding applied potentials. From this study, both bis-styrylBODIPY⋅+ and PDI⋅- could be spectrally characterizes and were subsequently used in characterizing the electron-transfer products. Finally, pump-probe spectral studies were performed in dichlorobenzene under selective PDI and bis-styrylBODIPY excitation to secure energy and electron-transfer evidence. The measured rate constants for energy transfer, kENT , were in the range of 1011  s-1 , while the electron transfer rate constants, kET , were in the range of 1010  s-1 , thus highlighting their potential use in solar energy harvesting and optoelectronic applications.

Exploring the Association of Electron‐Donating Corroles with Phthalocyanines as Electron Acceptors

Electron‐donating corroles (Cor) were integrated with electron‐accepting phthalocyanines (Pc) to afford two different non‐covalent Cor ⋅ Pc systems. At the forefront was the coordination between a 10‐meso‐pyridine Cor and a ZnPc. The complexation was corroborated in a combination of NMR, absorption, and fluorescence assays, and revealed association with binding constants as high as 10⁶  m⁻¹. Steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopies evidenced that regardless of exciting Cor or Pc, the charge‐separated state evolved efficiently in both cases, followed by a slow charge‐recombination to reinstate the ground state. The introduction of non‐covalent linkages between Cor and Pc induces sizeable differences in the context of light harvesting and transfer of charges when compared with covalently linked Cor‐Pc conjugates.

Fluorinated aluminum(III) porphyrins: Synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry and photochemistry

A series of fluorinated free-base porphyrins (H2TPPF[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] = 0, 8, 12, 20, 24) and the corresponding aluminum(III) porphyrin (AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph, [Formula: see text] = 0, 8, 12, 20, 24) derivatives have been synthesized and their spectroscopic, redox and optical properties were investigated. The absorption studies show that the spectral shapes of investigated porphyrins are sensitive to the degree of fluorination on the meso-phenyl units. Analogously, the fluorescence quantum yields and singlet-state lifetimes depend on the number of fluorine atoms, and decrease by increasing the number of fluorine atoms. The H2TPPF[Formula: see text] and AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph ([Formula: see text] = 8, 12, 20, 24) derivatives exhibited lower fluorescence intensities compared to the H2TPP and AlTPP, respectively. However, the AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph ([Formula: see text] = 0, 8, 12, 20, 24) derivatives yield relatively a strong fluorescence compared to the well-known ZnTPP. As predicted, the redox potentials are shifted to the more positive side by increasing the fluorine atoms. The Lewis acidity of AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph was quantified by using the absorption and fluorescence titrations with the Lewis base [Formula: see text]-methylimidazole (Me-Im). The titration data suggests that the Lewis acidity of the Al center rises when increasing the number of fluorine atoms on the porphyrin. Together, the high fluorescence quantum yields, high-potentials, unique optical and redox properties suggest that the investigated porphyrins could be potential sensitizers to mimic various components of artificial photosynthetic systems for the production of solar fuels.

One-Photon Excitation Followed by a Three-Step Sequential Energy-Energy-Electron Transfer Leading to a Charge-Separated State in a Supramolecular Tetrad Featuring Benzothiazole-Boron-Dipyrromethene-Zinc Porphyrin-C60

A panchromatic triad, consisting of benzothiazole (BTZ) and BF₂ -chelated boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) moieties covalently linked to a zinc porphyrin (ZnP) core, has been synthesized and systematically characterized by using ¹ H NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, UV-visible, steady-state fluorescence, electrochemical, and femtosecond transient absorption techniques. The absorption band of the triad, BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP, and dyads, BTZ-BODIPY and BODIPY-ZnP, along with the reference compounds BTZ-OMe, BODIPY-OMe, and ZnP-OMe exhibited characteristic bands corresponding to individual chromophores. Electrochemical measurements on BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP exhibited redox behavior similar to that of the reference compounds. Upon selective excitation of BTZ (≈290 nm) in the BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP triad, the fluorescence of the BTZ moiety is quenched, due to photoinduced energy transfer (PEnT) from ¹ BTZ^* to the BODIPY moiety, followed by quenching of the BODIPY emission due to sequential PEnT from the ¹ BODIPY* moiety to ZnP, resulting in the appearance of the ZnP emission, indicating the occurrence of a two-step singlet-singlet energy transfer. Further, a supramolecular tetrad, BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP:ImC₆₀ , was formed by axially coordinating the triad with imidazole-appended fulleropyrrolidine (ImC₆₀ ), and parallel steady-state measurements displayed the diminished emission of ZnP, which clearly indicated the occurrence of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from ¹ ZnP* to ImC₆₀ . Finally, femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies provided evidence for the sequential occurrence of PEnT and PET events, namely, ¹ BTZ^* -BODIPY-ZnP:ImC₆₀ →BTZ-¹ BODIPY^* -ZnP:ImC₆₀ →BTZ-BODIPY-¹ ZnP^* :ImC₆₀ →BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP^.+ :ImC₆₀ ^.- in the supramolecular tetrad. The evaluated rate of energy transfer, k_EnT , was found to be 3-5×10¹⁰  s^-1 , which was slightly faster than that observed in the case of BODIPY-ZnP and BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP, lacking the coordinated ImC₆₀ . The rate constants for charge separation and recombination, k_CS and k_CR , respectively, calculated by monitoring the rise and decay of C₆₀ ^.- were found to be 5.5×10¹⁰ and 4.4×10⁸  s^-1 , respectively, for the BODIPY-ZnP:ImC₆₀ triad, and 3.1×10¹⁰ and 4.9×10⁸  s^-1 , respectively, for the BTZ-BODIPY-ZnP:ImC₆₀ tetrad. Initial excitation of the tetrad, promoting two-step energy transfer and a final electron-transfer event, has been successfully demonstrated in the present study.

Distance-Dependent Electron Transfer Kinetics in Axially Connected Silicon Phthalocyanine-Fullerene Conjugates

The effect of donor-acceptor distance in controlling the rate of electron transfer in axially linked silicon phthalocyanine-C₆₀ dyads has been investigated. For this, two C₆₀-SiPc-C₆₀ dyads, 1 and 2, varying in their donor-acceptor distance, have been newly synthesized and characterized. In the case of C₆₀-SiPc-C₆₀ 1 where the SiPc and C₆₀ are separated by a phenyl spacer, faster electron transfer was observed with k_cs equal to 2.7×10⁹ s^-1 in benzonitrile. However, in the case of C₆₀-SiPc-C₆₀ 2, where SiPc and C₆₀ are separated by a biphenyl spacer, a slower electron transfer rate constant, k_cs=9.1×10⁸ s^-1, was recorded. The addition of an extra phenyl spacer in 2 increased the donor-acceptor distance by ∼4.3 Å, and consequently, slowed down the electron transfer rate constant by a factor of ∼3.7. The charge separated state lasted over 3 ns, monitoring time window of our femtosecond transient spectrometer. Complimentary nanosecond transient absorption studies revealed formation of ³SiPc* as the end product and suggested the final lifetime of the charge separated state to be in the 3-20 ns range. Energy level diagrams established to comprehend these mechanistic details indicated that the comparatively high-energy SiPc^.+-C₆₀ ^.- charge separated states (1.57 eV) populated the low-lying ³SiPc* (1.26 eV) prior returning to the ground state.

Decelerating Charge Recombination Using Fluorinated Porphyrins in N,N-Bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)aniline-Aluminum(III) Porphyrin-Fullerene Reaction Center Models

In supramolecular reaction center models, the lifetime of the charge-separated state depends on many factors. However, little attention has been paid to the redox potential of the species that lie between the donor and acceptor in the final charge separated state. Here, we report on a series of self-assembled aluminum porphyrin-based triads that provide a unique opportunity to study the influence of the porphyrin redox potential independently of other factors. The triads, BTMPA-Im→AlPorF_n-Ph-C₆₀ (n = 0, 3, 5), were constructed by linking the fullerene (C₆₀) and bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)aniline (BTMPA) to the aluminum(III) porphyrin. The porphyrin (AlPor, AlPorF₃, or AlPorF₅) redox potentials are tuned by the substitution of phenyl (Ph), 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl (PhF₃), or 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl (PhF₅) groups in its meso positions. The C₆₀ and BTMPA units are bound axially to opposite faces of the porphyrin plane via covalent and coordination bonds, respectively. Excitation of all of the triads results in sequential electron transfer that generates the identical final charge separated state, BTMPA^•+-Im→AlPorF_n-Ph-C₆₀^•-, which lies energetically 1.50 eV above the ground state. Despite the fact that the radical pair is identical in all of the triads, remarkably, the lifetime of the BTMPA^•+-Im→AlPorF_n-Ph-C₆₀^•- radical pair was found to be very different in each of them, that is, 1240, 740, and 56 ns for BTMPA-Im→AlPorF₅-Ph-C₆₀, BTMPA-Im→AlPorF₃-Ph-C₆₀, and BTMPA-Im→AlPor-Ph-C₆₀, respectively. These results clearly suggest that the charge recombination is an activated process that depends on the midpoint potential of the central aluminum(III) porphyrin (AlPorF_n).

Quantitative insights into charge-separated states from one- and two-pulse laser experiments relevant for artificial photosynthesis

Charge-separated states (CSSs) are key intermediates in photosynthesis and solar energy conversion. However, the factors governing the formation efficiencies of CSSs are still poorly understood, and light-induced electron-hole recombinations as deactivation pathways competing with desired charge accumulations are largely unexplored. This greatly limits the possibility to perform efficient multi-electron transfer, which is essential for artificial photosynthesis. We present a systematic investigation of two donor-sensitizer-acceptor triads (with different donor-acceptor distances) capable of storing as much as 2.0 eV in their CSSs upon the absorption of a visible photon. Using quantitative one- and two-pulse laser flash photolysis, we provide deep insights into both the CSS formation quantum yield, which can reach up to 80%, and the fate of the CSS upon further (secondary) excitation with green photons. The triad with shorter intramolecular distances shows a remarkable excitation wavelength dependence of the CSS formation quantum yield, and the CSS of this triad undergoes more efficient light-induced charge recombination than the longer equivalent by about one order of magnitude, whilst thermal charge recombination shows the exact opposite behavior. The unexpected results of our detailed photophysical study can be rationalized by detrimental singlet charge transfer states or structural considerations, and could significantly contribute to the future design of CSS precursors for accumulative multi-electron transfer and artificial photosynthesis.

Surface anchored self-assembled reaction centre mimics as photoanodes consisting of a secondary electron donor, aluminium(iii) porphyrin and TiO2 semiconductor

Vertically assembled photoanodes, consisting of aluminum(iii) porphyrin, an electron donor, and semiconductor TiO₂, have been fabricated and their photophysical properties investigated.

Photoinduced electron transfer and unusual environmental effects in fullerene–Zn-porphyrin–BODIPY triads

Molecular arrays containing donor–acceptor sites and antenna molecules are promising candidates for organic photovoltaic devices.