|
|||||
|
|
Visible-Light Augmented Lithium Storage Capacity in a Ruthenium(II) Photosensitizer Conjugated with a Dione-Catechol Redox Couple |
|
| Authors: | Dr Deepak Gupta Dr Alae E Lakraychi Dr Buddha D Boruah Simon De Kreijger Dr Ludovic Troian-Gautier Prof Benjamin Elias Prof Michael De Volder Prof Alexandru Vlad |
| Institution: | 1. Institute de la Matière Condense et des Nanosciences (IMCN), Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur 1, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium;2. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FS United Kingdom
Institute for Materials Discovery, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE United Kingdom;3. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FS United Kingdom |
| Abstract: | Controlling redox activity of judiciously appended redox units on a photo-sensitive molecular core is an effective strategy for visible light energy harvesting and storage. The first example of a photosensitizer - electron donor coordination compound in which the photoinduced electron transfer step is used for light to electrical energy conversion and storage is reported. A photo-responsive Ru-diimine module conjugated with redox-active catechol groups in Ru(II)(phenanthroline-5,6-diolate)3]4− photosensitizer can mediate photoinduced catechol to dione oxidation in the presence of a sacrificial electron acceptor or at the surface of an electrode. Under potentiostatic condition, visible light triggered current density enhancement confirmed the light harvesting ability of this photosensitizer. Upon implementation in galvanostatic charge-discharge of a Li battery configuration, the storage capacity was found to be increased by 100 %, under 470 nm illumination with output power of 4.0 mW/cm−2. This proof-of-concept molecular system marks an important milestone towards a new generation of molecular photo-rechargeable materials. |
| Keywords: | electron transfer energy storage photo-batteries photo-induced photosynthesis |