Pico- and nano-second laser flash photolysis study on photoinduced charge separation in oligothiophene-C60 dyad molecules

Photoinduced charge separation (CS) and charge recombination (CR) processes of octathiophene-C₆₀ and dodecathiophene-C₆₀ dyad molecules (8T-C₆₀ and 12T-C₆₀, respectively) have been investigated by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy in the visible and near-IR regions. In toluene, ¹8T*-C₆₀ and ¹12T*-C₆₀ showed energy transfer to ¹C*-moiety predominantly, while 60 contribution of CS was small. In various polar solvents, on the other hand, CS states were predominantly formed from both singlet-excited oligothiophene and ¹C6*0-moiety because of lower CS level in polar environments. The CR process generating both the triplet state of oligothiophene and the ground state was confirmed in anisole and anisole/toluene mixture within a few nanoseconds. In more polar solvents (dielectric constant (∈_s) > 7), CS states showed two components decay: Slow decay component showed lifetime in the hundred nanosecond-region, while fast component decayed within a few nanoseconds. For the mechanism of the long-living CS state in polar solvents (∈_s > 7), equilibrium between the CS state and the triplet state was proposed. Furthermore, effects of length of oligothiophene on the CS and CR processes were discussed on the basis of the free energy changes.     

Photoinduced long-lived charge separation in a tetrathiafulvalene-porphyrin-fullerene triad detected by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance

Photoinduced electron transfer has been observed in a molecular triad, consisting of a porphyrin (P) covalently linked to a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and a fullerene derivative (C(60)), in the different phases of the liquid crystal E-7 and in a glass of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) by means of time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. In both solvents, an EPR signal observed immediately after excitation has been assigned to the radical pair TTF(*+)-P-C(60)(*-), based on its magnetic interaction parameters and spin polarization pattern. In the 2-MeTHF glass and the crystalline phase of E-7, the TTF(*+)-P-C(60)(*-) state is formed from the TTF-(1)P-C(60) singlet state via an initial TTF-P(*+)-C(60)(*-) charge-separated state. Long-lived charge separation ( approximately 8 mus) for the singlet-born radical pair is observed in the 2-MeTHF glass at cryogenic temperatures. In the nematic phase of E-7, a high degree of ordering in the liquid crystal is achieved by the molecular triad. In this phase, both singlet- and triplet-initiated electron transfer routes are concurrently active. At room temperature in the presence of the external magnetic field, the triplet-born radical pair (T)(TTF(*+)-P-C(60)(*-)) has a lifetime of approximately 7 mus, while that of the singlet-born radical pair (S)(TTF(*+)-P-C(60)(*-)) is much shorter (<1 mus). The difference in lifetimes is ascribed to spin dynamic effects in the magnetic field.     

Picosecond time-resolved observation of photoinduced charge separation from the singlet excited state of porphyrin-quinone model systems

The charge transfer state formed from the S₁ state of porphyrin-p-benzoquinone (BQ) model systems in solution has been observed combining octaethylporphyrin and BQ by methylene chains of various lengths. The lifetime of the electron transfer state depends upon the length of the methylene chain and the nature of the solvent.     

Strong supramolecular binding of Li(+)@C60 with sulfonated meso-tetraphenylporphyrins and long-lived photoinduced charge separation

A supramolecular binding occurred between lithium ion encapsulated [60]fullerene (Li(+)@C(60)) and sulfonated tetraphenylporphyrins ([MTPPS](4-) M = H(2) and Zn) in a benzonitrile solution. Photoexcitation of Li(+)@C(60)/[MTPPS](4-) results in formation of a long-lived charge-separated state by photoinduced electron transfer.     

Light-induced charge separation in anatase TiO2 particles

Ultraviolet light-induced electron-hole pair excitations in anatase TiO(2) powders were studied by a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy measurements. During continuous UV irradiation in the mW.cm(-2) range, photogenerated electrons are either trapped at localized sites, giving paramagnetic Ti(3+) centers, or remain in the conduction band as EPR silent species which may be observed by their IR absorption. Using low temperatures (90 K) to reduce the rate of the electron-hole recombination processes, trapped electrons and conduction band electrons exhibit lifetimes of hours. The EPR-detected holes produced by photoexcitation are O(-) species, produced from lattice O(2-) ions. It is found that under high vacuum conditions, the major fraction of photoexcited electrons remains in the conduction band. At 298 K, all stable hole and electron states are lost from TiO(2). Defect sites produced by oxygen removal during annealing of anatase TiO(2) are found to produce a Ti(3+) EPR spectrum identical to that of trapped electrons, which originate from photoexcitation of oxidized TiO(2). Efficient electron scavenging by adsorbed O(2) at 140 K is found to produce two long-lived O(2)(-) surface species associated with different cation surface sites. Reduced TiO(2), produced by annealing in vacuum, has been shown to be less efficient in hole trapping than oxidized TiO(2).     

Ultrafast photoinduced charge separation dynamics in polythiophene/SnO2 nanocomposites

We present a study of photoinduced interfacial electron transfer (ET) dynamics of SnO2 nanocrystalline thin films sensitized by polythiophene derivatives (regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and regiorandom poly(3-undecyl-2,2'-bithiophene) (P3UBT)). ET dynamics were measured by following the dynamics of injected electrons in SnO2 and polarons in the conjugated polymer using ultrafast mid-IR transient absorption spectroscopy. The rate of electron transfer from P3HT and P3UBT to SnO2 films was determined to occur on sub-picosecond time scale (120 +/- 20 fs). In P3HT/SnO2 composite, interchain charge transfer was found to compete with and reduce the quantum efficiency of interfacial electron transfer at high polymer loading. This interchain charge separation processes can be reduced in non-regioregular polymer or at low polymer loading levels.     

Synthesis of efficient N-containing TiO2 photocatalysts with high anatase thermal stability and the effects of the nitrogen residue on the photoinduced charge separation

Efficient N-containing TiO(2) nanoparticles with high anatase thermal stability were synthesized via a hexamethylenetetramine (HMT)-modified sol-hydrothermal process. The results showed that modification with proper amounts of HMT is effective in increasing the onset temperature of the phase transformation of TiO(2) from anatase to rutile. The enhancement of the anatase thermal stability of the modified TiO(2) was attributed to ammonia produced slowly by hydrolysis of the HMT molecules in the sol-hydrothermal process and, additionally, to the residual nitrogen species after the thermal treatment at high temperatures, as indicated by the XPS examination. Compared with the unmodified TiO(2), the modified TiO(2) obtained by a thermal treatment at high temperatures exhibited good photocatalytic performance under UV light and was found to even be superior to the commercially available P25-TiO(2). It was suggested that the residual N species (Ti-O-N), formed after the thermal treatment at high temperatures, along with the mixed phase composition, large surface area and the increase in the thermal stability, were responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of modified TiO(2). It was demonstrated, by means of the surface photovoltage responses of the modified TiO(2) in different atmospheres along with the aid of an outer electric field, that the residual N species could effectively capture the photoinduced holes, which was favorable for the effective separation of the photoinduced charges. This work provides a feasible route to fabricate high-performance TiO(2)-based functional nanomaterials with high anatase thermal stability.     

Nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence studies on the excited-state relaxation of azaaromatic / metal oxide adsorbates

Fluorescence studies reveal that Brønsted-acid as well as Lewis-acid adsorption sites are involved in the interaction of azaaromatic molecules (acridine, benzo{f}quinoline) with metal oxid catalysts (alumina, silica-alumina). Time-resolved investigations indicate that the relaxation of the initially excited (Franck-Condon)-state to the thermally equilibrated excited-state occurs on the nanosecond time-scale even at room-temperature in the case of azaaromatic molecules which are co-ordinated to Lewis-acid surface sites. The slow formation of the equilibrated excited-state is assigned to restrictions of the mobility of the polar constituents (O^2-/OH-groups) within the adsorption complex.     

氮硫共掺杂TiO_2的光电荷分离效应及其光催化性能研究

以硫脲为掺杂剂,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了氮硫共掺杂TiO2(N,S-TiO2)。用比表面孔隙仪(BET)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、紫外-可见漫反射(UV-Vis DRS)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)对制备的光催化剂进行了表征,用表面光电压仪(SPS)和捕获剂研究了光催化剂的光生电荷分离效应。以甲基橙为模拟污染物,在模拟自然光照射下考察了样品的光催化性能。结果表明:硫脲/Ti的摩尔比为30%所制备氮硫共掺杂TiO2具有较高的光催化活性,光催化活性是纯TiO2的5倍。氮硫共掺杂使TiO2具有更高的比表面和光生电荷分离效应,从而有利于提高光催化活性。     

Strong effects of the bridge configuration on photoinduced charge separation in rigidly linked donor-acceptor systems

Photoinduced electron-transfer rates are reported for two pairs of rigid bichromophoric molecules 1(6)/2(6) and 1(8)/2(8). In the first pair electron donor and acceptor are separated by six, in the second pair by eight, carbon—carbon σ bonds. While these σ bonds provide an all-trans coupling path in 1(6) and 1(8), that path contains s-cis elements in 2(6) and 2(8), which - as shown by X-ray structure data and by spectroscopic evidence - leads to a slight decrease in the effective, spatial donor-acceptor separation. Nevertheless, photoinduced electron transfer in each of the “stretched” compounds is about one order of magnitude faster than in the corresponding “bent” compound. This remarkable effect is interpreted as resulting from the unique ability of an all-trans array of σ bonds to mediate electronic through-bond interaction (TBI). Interestingly the solvent dependence of the rate of photoinduced electron transfer is significantly larger in the “bent” systems, thus indicating that superexchange via solvent molecules becomes competitive with TBI if an all-trans array is not available.     

Inter versus intra-molecular photoinduced charge separation in solid films of donor-acceptor molecules

We report on photoinduced charge separation in solid films of two perylene diimides; intramolecular charge separation and recombination is correlated with a reduction in the yield of long-lived, intermolecular charge-separated species.     

Mechanism of photoinduced superhydrophilicity on the TiO2 photocatalyst surface

The physicochemical properties of the H(2)O molecules adsorbed on TiO(2) surfaces during UV light irradiation were fully investigated by near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the H(2)O molecules adsorbed on the TiO(2) surfaces desorb during UV light irradiation by the heating effect of the light source. Since the amount of the H(2)O adsorbed on the TiO(2) surfaces decreased, the distribution of the hydrogen bonds within the H(2)O molecules decreased, resulting in a decrease in the surface tension of the H(2)O clusters. The decrease in the surface tension of H(2)O under UV light irradiation was found to be one of the most important driving forces in which the H(2)O clusters on the TiO(2) surface spread out thermodynamically, forming H(2)O thin layers. The partial elimination of the hydrocarbons from the TiO(2) surface by the photocatalytic complete oxidation was seen to be the other important factor, providing free spaces on the surface where the H(2)O clusters could spill over and spread out to form the thin H(2)O layers. Moreover, the temperature changes of the TiO(2) powder samples during UV light irradiation were found to show a good correspondence with the changes in the contact angle of the H(2)O droplets on the TiO(2) thin film surfaces. Especially the time scale for the hydrophilic conversion on the TiO(2) surfaces under UV light irradiation was in good agreement with the decrease in the amount of H(2)O molecules adsorbed on the TiO(2) surfaces but not the amount of the hydrocarbons eliminated by the photocatalytic oxidation reactions, showing that the adsorption and desorption of H(2)O molecules are generally quite sensitive to the temperature changes of solid surfaces.     

Energy-gap dependence of photoinduced charge separation and subsequent charge recombination in 1,4-phenylene-bridged zinc--free-base hybrid porphyrins

A series of 1,4-phenylene-bridged ZP-HP hybrid porphyrins (ZP = zinc porphyrin, HP = free-base porphyrin) 1-8 ZH have been prepared in which an electron-donating ZP moiety is kept constant and electron-accepting HP moieties are varied by introducing electron-accepting substituents, so that the energy gap for charge separation, ZP-1HP*--> ZP(+)-HP-, covers a range of about 0.9 eV in DMF. Here selective excitation at the HP moiety was employed to avoid complication in the determination of electron transfer rates derived from energy transfer, 1ZP*-HP --> ZP-1HP*. Definitive evidence for the electron transfer has been obtained in three solvents (benzene, THF, and DMF) through picosecond-femtosecond transient absorption studies, which have allowed the determination of the rates of the photoinduced charge separation, ZP-1HP* --> ZP(+)-HP-, and subsequent thermal charge recombination ZP(+)-HP- --> ZP-HP. Dyad 1ZH in THF exhibits a biphasic fluorescence decay that indicates thermal repopulation of the ZP-1HP* from ZP(+)-HP-; this has been also supported by the transient absorption spectra. On this ground, the energy levels of the ZP(+)-HP- ion pairs have been estimated. Similar biphasic fluorescence decay has been observed for 5 ZH in benzene; this allows furhter estimation of the energy level of the ZP(+)-HP- ion pairs. The free-energy-gap dependence (energy-gap law) has been probed from the normal to the upper limit region for the rate of the charge separation alone, and only the inverted region for the rate of the charge recombination. It was not possible to reproduce both energy-gap dependencies of the charge separation and the charge recombination assuming common parameter values for the reorganization energy and electronic interaction responsible for the electron transfer with the classical Marcus equation. Although both energy-gap dependencies can be approximately reproduced by means of the simplified semiclassical equation, which takes into consideration the effect of the high-frequency vibrations replaced by one mode of averaged frequency, many features, which include the effects of solvent polarity, electron-tunneling matrix element, and so forth on the energy-gap law, are considerably different from those of the previous studied porphyrin-quinone systems with weaker inter-chromophore electronic interactions.     

Effects of doping La and Cu on photoinduced charge properties of TiO_2 and its relationships with photocatalytic activity

In recent years, nanosized TiO2 materials have been widely studied in photocatalytic and photoelectric conversion fields because of their intrinsic characteris- tics, such as stable chemical property, strong oxidizing capability and nontoxicity[1,2]. And the preparation, characterization and modification of nanosized TiO2 are always crucial contents in semiconductor photo- electric chemistry and photocatalytic researches[3,4]. To further improve TiO2 performance, doping metal ion is consider…     

Subpicosecond photoinduced charge injection from "molecular tripods" into mesoporous TiO2 over the distance of 24 angstroms

Extended rigid tripodal sensitizers were used to investigate the rate of long-distance photoinduced charge transfer from the MLCT excited states of RuII-based chromophores into mesoporous TiO2 films. The distance between the RuII center and the surface of the semiconductor was 24 A. Rapid biexponential charge injection with a major subpicosecond component as fast as 240 fs was observed upon femtosecond laser excitation of the tripods bound to the TiO2 surface. This rate exceeds the typical rates of vibrational cooling and thus strongly supports the possibility of "hot electron injection" occurring at very large donor-to-semiconductor distances.     

Fluorescence studies on solvent-induced intramolecular charge separation in symmetric biaryls

Fluorescence studies on 5,5′-bi-benz[a]-pyrenyl reveal that the emitting state in polar solvents possesses a high dipole moment. Even in non-polar solvents such as n-hexane, dual fluorescence is emitted, with a structured twisted intramolecular charge transfer band. This puts an upper limit to the dipolar solvent fluctuations necessary to induce symmetry reduction and charge separation in the excited state. Theoretical guidelines to predict further cases of biaryls that exhibit charge separation in the excited state are derived.     

Dyads for photoinduced charge separation based on platinum diimine bis(acetylide) chromophores: synthesis,luminescence and transient absorption studies

The platinum diimine bis(acetylide) chromophore was utilized to explore photoinduced intramolecular reductive quenching with phenothiazine donors in chromophore-donor dyad complexes. Compounds of the general formula Pt(X(2)-bpy)(C triple bond C-p-C(6)H(4)CH(2)(D))(2) (where D = phenothiazine (PTZ) or trifluromethylphenothiazine (TPZ) and X = (t)Bu or CO(2)Et) were synthesized from the corresponding Pt(X(2)-bpy)Cl(2) and aryl acetylene by a CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction. Solvent dependence was explored for the system with X = (t)Bu in MeCN, CH(2)Cl(2), EtOAc, and toluene. Electron transfer quenching of the (3)MLCT excited state of the platinum diimine bis(acetylide) takes place in MeCN leaving no intrinsic emission from the excited state, but in toluene both the PTZ and TPZ dyad complexes exhibit no emission quenching. Picosecond pump-probe transient absorption (TA) experiments were used to monitor decay of the (3)MLCT excited state and electron transfer to form the charge-separated (CS) state. Electrochemical measurements were used to estimate the driving force for charge recombination (CR), with deltaE(CR) based on the reduction potential corresponding to Pt(X(2)-bpy)(C triple bond C-Ar)(2) --> Pt(X(2)-bpy(*)(-))(C triple bond C-Ar)(2) and the oxidation corresponding to donor --> donor(*)(+). Kinetic information from the TA measurements was used to correlate rate and driving force with the electron transfer reactions. Concomitant with the decay of the (3)MLCT excited state was the observation of a transient absorption at ca. 500 nm due to formation of the PTZ or TPZ radical cation in the CS state, with the rate of charge separation, k(CS), being 1.8 x 10(9) to 2 x 10(10) s(-1) for the three dyads explored in MeCN and 1:9 CH(2)Cl(2)/MeCN. The fastest rate of CR occurs for X = CO(2)Et and D = PTZ, the compound with smallest deltaE(CR) = 1.71 V. The rate of CR for dyads with X = (t)Bu and D = PTZ or TPZ was estimated to be 1.7-2.0 x 10(8) s(-1) in MeCN. The slower rate corresponds to a greater driving force for CR, deltaE(CR) = 2.18 and 2.36 V for D = PTZ and TPZ, respectively, suggesting that the driving force for charge recombination places it in the Marcus inverted region.     

Effect of TiO2 colloids on the fluorescence behavior of two cyanine dyes

The photophysical properties of two typical cyanine dyes [3,3'-diethyl-9-methyl-thiacarbocyanine iodide (dye A) and anhydro-3,3'-disulfopropyl-5,5'-diphenyl-9-ethyloxacarbocyanine hydroxide (dye B)] in the absence and presence of TiO(2) colloids have been investigated by UV-visible spectroscopy, (1)H-NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime measurements, and ESR measurements. It was found from the absorption spectra and NMR results that there are two isomers in the ground state of these dyes. Steady-state fluorescence spectra show that the fluorescence intensities of dye A and dye B are enhanced and quenched by TiO(2) colloids, respectively. Time-resolved fluorescence lifetime measurements indicate that the lifetimes of dye A and dye B in the presence of TiO(2) colloids are longer and shorter than those obtained in the absence of TiO(2) colloids, respectively. ESR measurements demonstrate that the electron transfer efficiency from (1)dye B* to the conduction band of TiO(2) is much larger than that from (1)dye A* to the conduction band of TiO(2). The different fluorescence behavior of dye A and dye B can be intepreted in terms of whether phi(Tr,nr)(0)-phi(Tr,nr) (the reduction of the quantum yield for radiationless transition in the excited singlet state (1)dye* caused by the TiO(2) colloids) is larger or smaller than phi(ET) (the quantum yield of electron transfer from (1)dye* to the conduction band of TiO(2) colloids).     

Mechanisms and applications of plasmon-induced charge separation at TiO2 films loaded with gold nanoparticles

Plasmon-induced photoelectrochemistry in the visible region was studied at gold nanoparticle-nanoporous TiO(2) composites (Au-TiO(2)) prepared by photocatalytic deposition of gold in a porous TiO(2) film. Photoaction spectra for both the open-circuit potential and short-circuit current were in good agreement with the absorption spectrum of the gold nanoparticles in the TiO(2) film. The gold nanoparticles are photoexcited due to plasmon resonance, and charge separation is accomplished by the transfer of photoexcited electrons from the gold particle to the TiO(2) conduction band and the simultaneous transfer of compensative electrons from a donor in the solution to the gold particle. Besides its low-cost and facile preparation, a photovoltaic cell with the optimized electron mediator (Fe(2+/3+)) exhibits an optimum incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 26%. The Au-TiO(2) can photocatalytically oxidize ethanol and methanol at the expense of oxygen reduction under visible light; it is potentially applicable to a new class of photocatalysts and photovoltaic fuel cells.     

Ultrafast photoinduced intramolecular charge separation and recombination processes in the oligothiophene-substituted benzene dyads with an amide spacer

Photoinduced intramolecular charge separation (CS) and recombination (CR) processes of the tetrathiophene-substituted benzene dyads with an amide spacer (4T-PhR, R = 4-H (1), 4-CN (2), 3,4-(CN)2 (3), 4-NO2 (4), 3,5-(NO2)2 (5)) in solvents of different polarities were investigated using various fast spectroscopies. It was revealed that the CS rates depend on the ability of the acceptor and solvent polarity. Ultrafast CS with the rate of 5 x 10(12) s(-1) was revealed for 5 in PhCN and MeCN. The ultrafast CS can be attributed to the large electronic coupling matrix element between the donor and the acceptor despite the relative long donor-acceptor distance. The existence of the state with large electron density on the spacer between 14T*-PhR and LUMO should facilitate the CS process in the present dyad system. It was also revealed that the CR rates in these dyads were rather fast because of the enhanced superexchange interaction through the amide spacer.