AN ABSORPTION BAND NEAR 800 mμ ASSOCIATED WITH P870 IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA*

Abstract— Purple photosynthetic bacteria contain a component, absorbing near 805 mμ, distinct from the major light harvesting bacteriochlorophyll component. The minor component, designated P800, resembles P870 in that it resists oxidative treatments that destroy the light harvesting bacteriochlorophyll. Light induces a reversible blue-shift of P800 together with the reversible bleaching of P870. The ratio of P800 to P870 in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides is constant. Both pigments are absent in phenotypes that cannot grow photosynthetically; they reappear together in revertants to photosynthetic competence. Action spectra for light-induced bleaching of P870 and for bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence show that P800 transfers energy more efficiently to P870 than to the bulk bacteriochlorophyll. It is concluded provisionally that P800 is a specialized bacteriochlorophyll molecule in close proximity to the reaction center component P870.     

SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLLS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO*

Abstract— Chromatophores from Rhodopseudonionas spheroides were treated with potassium iridic chloride so as to destroy the major complement of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) without harming the photochemically active P870. A band at 802 mμ, attributed to a pigment P800, survived this treatment along with P870. Extraction of such chromatophores with a mixture of acetone and methanol removed the absorption bands of P800 and P870; a corresponding amount of BChl was found in the extract. The yield of BChl was too great to have been derived from either P800 or P870 alone; analysis of extinction cofficients and band areas of these pigments indicates that they are both specialized fornis of BChl, in a molecular ratio of 2P800:1P870. Bleaching of P870, without attenuation of the absorption band of P800, could be effected by adding potassium ferricyanide to the iridic chloride-treated chromatophores. Extraction of chromatophores in this condition gave a reduced yield of BChl, consistent with a 2:1 ratio of P800 to P870 under the assumption that the BChl in the extract was derived in this case from P800 alone. An absorption band at 600 mμ in iridic chloride-treated chromatophores, characteristic of BChl and ascribed to P800 and P870, is partly bleached and shifted to shoiter wavelengths upon illumination. This reversible effect, and a similar one near 375 mμ (corresponding to the Soret band maximum of BChl), has the combined attributes of the blue-shift of P800 and the bleaching of P870 seen in a spectrally resolved form near 800 and 865 mμ respectively. The 600 mμ band is bleached by about 30 per cent, again consistent with a ratio of 2P800:1P870. These data, in conjunction with information published elsewhere, support the view that two molecules of P800 and one of P870 are associated jointly with a photosynthetic reaction center. It was observed that the long wave absorption bands of BChl in vivo are sometimes narrower than the narrowest bands that have been observed for BChl in dilute organic solutions. Sharpness of these bands is most conspicuous in some forms absorbing near 800 mμ.     

RELATIONS BETWEEN PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND FLUORESCENCE IN CELLS AND EXTRACTS OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA*

Abstract— Light-induced changes in the yield of bacteriochlorophyll fluorescence have been measured in cells and chromatophores of photosynthetic bacteria, and coordinated with light-induced absorbancy changes. Comparisons were drawn during transitions between dark and light steady states and also between steady states established at different light intensities. Aerobic cell suspensions of Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, Chromatium and Rhodopseudomonas sp. NHTC 133 showed a strict correspondence between changes in the fluorescence yield and the bleaching of P870 (P985 in Rps. sp. NHTC 133), as reported by Vredenberg and Duysens for R. rubrum cells. The relationship shows that singlet excitation energy in bacteriochlorophyll is quenched by P870 at a rate proportional to the concentration of unbleached P870. This implies that the photosynthetic units are not independent with respect to energy transfer. In anaerobic cell suspensions the change in fluorescence did not follow the bleaching of P870 in the manner described by Vredenberg and Duysens. Here a change in fluorescence may have resulted from the reduction of a primary photochemical electron acceptor as well as from the oxidation (bleaching) of P870. In chromatophore preparations there were further deviations from the Vredenberg and Duysens relationship which could be attributed to changes in the rate constants for quenching of singlet excitation energy. Finally there was a light-induced increase in the fluorescence yield which was related to a band shift of bacteriochlorophyll and not to the bleaching of P870. Aerobic cell suspensions presented a limiting case in which these complications were absent. No change in the fluorescence was associated uniquely with the oxidation of cytochrome or band shifts of carotenoid pigments. These results, when coordinated with earlier findings about the fluorescence of bacteriochlorophyll and P870, indicate that the singlet excitation quantum is the only energy carrier linking the absorption of light with the initiation of photochemistry in bacterial photosynthesis.     

EFFECTS OF HIGH PRESSURE ON PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION CENTERS FROM RHODOPSEUDOMONAS SPHEROIDES*

Abstract— Photochemical reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides were subjected to pressures ranging from 1 to 6000 atm. Optical absorption, fluorescence and photochemical activities were studied under these conditions. Absorption spectra showed bathychromic shifts of the long-wave bands attributed to bacteriopheophytin and bacteriochlorophyll (the latter as P800 and P870). The quantum efficiency of photochemical oxidation of P870 was diminished at high pressure. The quantum yield of P870 fluorescence showed a parallel decline, as if high pressure introduced a quenching process that competed with both photochemistry and fluorescence. The original efficiencies were largely restored when the pressure was returned to 1 atm. The efficiency of oxidation of mammalian cytochrome c, coupled to the photochemical oxidation of P870 in reaction centers, was lowered by high pressure. This effect was more pronounced than the effect on P870 oxidation, and was irreversible. The kinetics of recovery of P870 following its photochemical oxidation showed effects of high pressure. The main effect was the appearance, at high pressure, of slow recovery suggesting the trapping of electrons. This effect was partly irreversible.     

LIGHT-INDUCED ABSORBANCY CHANGES IN EIMHJELLEN''S RHODOPSEUDOMONAS*

Abstract— Light induced absorbancy changes in Rhodopseudomonas sp. NHTC 133 are analogous to those observed in other photosynthetic bacteria, but all of the features in the light-induced difference spectrum (except those reflecting cytochrome oxidation) are shifted to greater wavelengths. This general shift is consistent with the fact that the bacteriochlorophyll of this organism (BChl b ) differs from the usual BChl in that its absorption bands are shifted to greater wavelengths.
The singlet excited state of P985 (the counterpart of the P870 of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides ) is not an energy sink relative to the major component of BChl b in vivo . The absorption maximum of P985 is at 985 mp, whereas that of CBhl b in vivo is at 1012 mμ.     

Light‐Harvesting Photocatalysis for Water Oxidation Using Mesoporous Organosilica

An organic‐based photocatalysis system for water oxidation, with visible‐light harvesting antennae, was constructed using periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). PMO containing acridone groups in the framework (Acd‐PMO), a visible‐light harvesting antenna, was supported with [Ru^II(bpy)₃²⁺] complex (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridyl) coupled with iridium oxide (IrO_x) particles in the mesochannels as photosensitizer and catalyst, respectively. Acd‐PMO absorbed visible light and funneled the light energy into the Ru complex in the mesochannels through excitation energy transfer. The excited state of Ru complex is oxidatively quenched by a sacrificial oxidant (Na₂S₂O₈) to form Ru³⁺ species. The Ru³⁺ species extracts an electron from IrO_x to oxidize water for oxygen production. The reaction quantum yield was 0.34 %, which was improved to 0.68 or 1.2 % by the modifications of PMO. A unique sequence of reactions mimicking natural photosystem II, 1) light‐harvesting, 2) charge separation, and 3) oxygen generation, were realized for the first time by using the light‐harvesting PMO.     

Oxidation and photooxidation of sulfide and thiosulfate ions catalyzed by transition metal chalcogenides and phthalocyanine complexes

The catalytic and photocatalytic activities of supported cobalt or zinc phthalocyanine complexes, bulk MoS₂, MoS₂ deposited on Al₂O₃, potassium intercalated MoS₂ (K_0.33 H₂O_0.66 MoS₂), CdS and polycrystalline nickel phosphorus trisulfide (NiPS₃) have been investigated in the oxidation of sodium sulfide and Na₂S₂O₃. The phthalocyanine complexes and the metal chalcogenides do not catalyze, in the absence of light, the complete oxidation of the sulfide ion to sulfate ion. The final product of the catalytic oxidation is the formed thiosulfate. No oxidation of Na₂S₂O₃ has been registered in the dark in the presence of any of the catalytic samples. Their activity was enhanced upon irradiation with visible light. Thiosulfate appears to be the final product also of the photooxidation of the sulfide ion catalyzed by metal chalcogenides. They do not catalyze the further photooxidation of Na₂S₂O₃. The only photocatalysts which favour with their presence the oxidation of the sulfide and thiosulfate ions to sulfate ion, are the zinc phthalocyanine complexes. In this case, the photooxidation process involves singlet oxygen.     

Carotenoids Do Not Protect Bacteriochlorophylls in Isolated Light-Harvesting LH2 Complexes of Photosynthetic Bacteria from Destructive Interactions with Singlet Oxygen

The effect of singlet oxygen on light-harvesting (LH) complexes has been studied for a number of sulfur (S⁺) and nonsulfur (S⁻) photosynthetic bacteria. The visible/near-IR absorption spectra of the standard LH2 complexes (B800-850) of Allochromatium (Alc.) vinosum (S⁺), Rhodobacter (Rba.) sphaeroides (S⁻), Rhodoblastus (Rbl.) acidophilus (S⁻), and Rhodopseudomonas (Rps.) palustris (S⁻), two types LH2/LH3 (B800-850 and B800-830) of Thiorhodospira (T.) sibirica (S⁺), and an unusual LH2 complex (B800-827) of Marichromatium (Mch.) purpuratum (S⁺) or the LH1 complex from Rhodospirillum (Rsp.) rubrum (S⁻) were measured in aqueous buffer suspensions in the presence of singlet oxygen generated by the illumination of the dye Rose Bengal (RB). The content of carotenoids in the samples was determined using HPLC analysis. The LH2 complex of Alc. vinosum and T. sibirica with a reduced content of carotenoids was obtained from cells grown in the presence of diphenylamine (DPA), and LH complexes were obtained from the carotenoidless mutant of Rba. sphaeroides R26.1 and Rps. rubrum G9. We found that LH2 complexes containing a complete set of carotenoids were quite resistant to the destructive action of singlet oxygen in the case of Rba. sphaeroides and Mch. purpuratum. Complexes of other bacteria were much less stable, which can be judged by a strong irreversible decrease in the bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) absorption bands (at 850 or 830 nm, respectively) for sulfur bacteria and absorption bands (at 850 and 800 nm) for nonsulfur bacteria. Simultaneously, we observe the appearance of the oxidized product 3-acetyl-chlorophyll (AcChl) absorbing near 700 nm. Moreover, a decrease in the amount of carotenoids enhanced the spectral stability to the action of singlet oxygen of the LH2 and LH3 complexes from sulfur bacteria and kept it at the same level as in the control samples for carotenoidless mutants of nonsulfur bacteria. These results are discussed in terms of the current hypothesis on the protective functions of carotenoids in bacterial photosynthesis. We suggest that the ability of carotenoids to quench singlet oxygen (well-established in vitro) is not well realized in photosynthetic bacteria. We compared the oxidation of BChl850 in LH2 complexes of sulfur bacteria under the action of singlet oxygen (in the presence of 50 μM RB) or blue light absorbed by carotenoids. These processes are very similar: {[BChl + (RB or carotenoid) + light] + O₂} → AcChl. We speculate that carotenoids are capable of generating singlet oxygen when illuminated. The mechanism of this process is not yet clear.     

ISOLATION OF PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION CENTERS FROM A CAROTENOIDLESS MUTANT OF RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM*

Lauryl dimethyl amine oxide was used to isolate reaction centers from a carotenoid-less mutant, strain G-9, of Rhodospirillum rubrum. These reaction centers have absorption spectra and light or chemically induced difference spectra very similar to those obtained from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, strain R-26. But, unlike those from Rps. spheroides, they are more labile to higher detergent concentrations and to ammonium sulfate. The cytochrome content was estimated to be less than one per 10 P870.     

COOPERATION OF CHARGES IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC O2 EVOLUTION-II. DAMPING OF FLASH YIELD OSCILLATION,DEACTIVATION*

Abstract— A quantitative analysis is made of a linear 4-step model for photosynthetic O₂ evolution in which each photochemical trapping center or an associated enzyme cycles through 5 oxidation states (S₀, S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄). The overall reaction is: S₀→ S₄, S₄→ S₀+ O₂, where k_d= rate of dark reaction. Based on data obtained with isolated chloroplasts, four aspects were considered: (1) The two perturbations which damp the oscillation of the O₂ flash yield in a flash sequence given after a dark period-(a) a failure rate (α) of the trapping centers in the photochemical conversion (‘misses’) and (b) double effective excitations in a fraction (8) of the centers which are in the S₀ and S₁ states (‘double hits’). Best fit with the experimental data is obtained for α= 0.1, β=0.05. (2) The kinetics and the mechanism of deactivation—the loss of + charges (O₂ precursors) in the dark. The momentary distribution of the four oxidation states (S₀-_-S₃) in a sample can be computed from the O₂ yields of four consecutive flashes with corrections for a and β. The time course of the various states in the dark following specific preilluminations reveals that deactivation proceeds in single equivalent steps: S₃→S₂, S₂,→S₁. S₁, itself stable in the dark, is the end product of deactivation. The ground state S₀ cannot be formed by deactivation in the dark but is only formed during illumination. (3) The various ratios [S₀]/[S₁] which can be observed in a sample after deactivation following different preilluminations with flashes or continuous light. (4) The transients of the O₂ evolution rate in weak continuous light as observed after deactivation with or without flash preillumination. In all instances satisfactory agreement is found between the observations and the predictions of the model.     

Photosynthetic Electron Transport in an Anoxygenic Photosynthetic Bacterium Afifella (Rhodopseudomonas) marina Measured Using PAM Fluorometry

Blue diode‐based pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) technology can be used to measure the photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) in a purple nonsulfur anoxygenic photobacterium, Afifella (Rhodopseudomonas) marina. Rhodopseudomonads have a reaction center light harvesting antenna complex containing an RC‐2 type bacteriochlorophyll a protein (BChl a RC‐2‐LH1) which has a blue absorption peak and variable fluorescence similar to PSII. Absorptance of cells filtered onto glass fiber disks was measured using a blue–diode‐based absorptance meter (Blue‐RAT) so that absolute ETR could be calculated from PAM experiments. Maximum quantum yield (Y) was ≈0.6, decreasing exponentially as irradiance increased. ETR vs irradiance (P vs E) curves fitted the waiting‐in‐line model (ETR = (ETR_max × E/E_opt) × exp(1 ? E/E_opt)). Maximum ETR (ETR_max) was ≈1000–2000 μmol e^? mg^?1 BChl a h^?1. Fe²⁺, bisulfite and thiosulfate act as photosynthetic electron donors. Optimum irradiance was ≈100 μmol m^?2 s^?1 PPFD even in Afifella grown in sunlight. Quantum efficiencies (α) were ≈0.3–0.4 mol e^? mol hλ^?1; or ≈11.8 ± 2.9 mol e^? mol hλ^?1 m² μg^?1 BChl a). An underlying layer of Afifella in a constructed algal/photosynthetic bacterial mat has little effect on the measured ETR of the overlying oxyphotoautotroph (Chlorella).     

The Effects of pH and Ionic Strength on the Aggregation of Bacteriochlorophyll c in Aqueous Organic Media: The Possibility of Two Kinds of Aggregates

The aggregation behavior of two homologs of bacteriochlorophyll c (BChl c) in various media was investigated for the effects of pH and salt, and the corresponding structures were analyzed by Fourier transform (FT)-IR spectroscopy. R-[P, E] BChl c_F (3¹-R-form of BChl c with a propyl group at the C-8 position and an ethyl group at the C-12 position) and R-[E, E] BChl c_F (3¹-R-form of BChl c with two ethyl groups at positions C-8 and C-12) were isolated from the green sulfur bacterium Chloro-bium limicola. Aggregates of each homolog showed a pH-dependent shift of the absorption maximum; at low pH, the peak moved to the red. This tendency was also revealed by circular dichroic spectra. A similar red shift of the peak was also induced by a high concentration of salt (NaCl) or buffer for both homologs. The FT-IR spectrum indicates that at low pH, both homologs formed a rather amorphous aggregate. On the other hand, a regular structure of R-[P, E] BChl c_F was indicated in an acetone-water mixture. This structure was stabilized by a triangular interaction among three pigment molecules through the Mg-OH (3>) O = C (13¹) linkage. This structure was not found for R-[E, E] BChl c_F. These results indicate that the replacement of the side chain at the C-8 position on the macrocycle induces a change in aggregation behavior. A possible heterogeneity of the in vivo rod structure of chlorosomes in green sulfur bacteria is discussed based on the above results.     

Metallophthalocyanine‐Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers as Highly Efficient Photosensitizers for Singlet Oxygen Generation

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is of great interest because of its potential applications in photodynamic therapy, photooxidation of toxic molecules, and photochemical synthesis. Herein, we report novel metallophthalocyanine (MPc) based conjugated microporous polymers (MPc‐CMPs) as photosensitizers for the generation of ¹O₂. The rigid microporous structure efficiently improves the exposure of the majority of the MPc units to oxygen. The MPc‐CMPs also exhibit an enhanced light‐harvesting capability in the far‐red region through their extended π‐conjugation systems. Their microporous structure and excellent absorption capability for long‐wavelength photons result in the MPc‐CMPs showing high efficiency for ¹O₂ generation upon irradiation with 700 nm light, as evident by using 1,3‐diphenylisobenzofuran as an ¹O₂ trap. These results indicate that MPc‐CMPs can be considered as promising photosensitizers for the generation of ¹O₂.     

Stages of thermal decomposition of sodium oxo-salts of sulphur

Thermal behaviour of sodium oxo-salts of sulphur: Na₂SO₄, Na₂S₂O₇, Na₂S₂O₆, Na₂SO₃, Na₂S₂O₅, Na₂S₂O₄, Na₂S₂O₃, Na₂S₃O₆ and of sulphides Na₂S and Na₂S₂ was studied on heating up to 1000°C. The experiments were performed with anhydrous compounds obtained from commercial products by recrystallisation and dehydration. The stage mechanisms of decomposition of anionic sub-lattices of the salts have been proposed basing on the Górski’s morphological classification of simple species. The thermal stability and the stage decomposition mechanisms were correlated with the structure and the potential chemical properties of the salt anions. The thermal decomposition processes were studied by means of thermal analysis, and the decomposition products were identified by means of X-ray phase analysis.     

Light Fluence Rate and Tissue Oxygenation (StO2) Distributions Within the Thoracic Cavity of Patients Receiving Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

The distributions of light and tissue oxygenation (S_tO₂) within the chest cavity were determined for 15 subjects undergoing macroscopic complete resection followed by intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) as part of a clinical trial for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Over the course of light delivery, detectors at each of eight different sites recorded exposure to variable fluence rate. Nevertheless, the treatment-averaged fluence rate was similar among sites, ranging from a median of 40–61 mW cm⁻² during periods of light exposure to a detector. S_tO₂ at each tissue site varied by subject, but posterior mediastinum and posterior sulcus were the most consistently well oxygenated (median S_tO₂ >90%; interquartile ranges ~85–95%). PDT effect on S_tO₂ was characterized as the S_tO₂ ratio (post-PDT S_tO₂/pre-PDT S_tO₂). High S_tO₂ pre-PDT was significantly associated with oxygen depletion (S_tO₂ ratio < 1), although the extent of oxygen depletion was mild (median S_tO₂ ratio of 0.8). Overall, PDT of the thoracic cavity resulted in moderate treatment-averaged fluence rate that was consistent among treated tissue sites, despite instantaneous exposure to high fluence rate. Mild oxygen depletion after PDT was experienced at tissue sites with high pre-PDT S_tO₂, which may suggest the presence of a treatment effect.     

Phase Diagram of Na2S2O3)+t‐Butanol+Water at Ambient Pressure and Temperature

In the present work, we report the studies concerning liquid‐liquid‐solid equilibria for the ternary system sodium thiosulphate (Na₂S₂O₃)+t‐butanol+water at ambient pressure and at room temperature (303±2 K). The solubility data of Na₂S₂O₃ are reported for solutions in water, t‐butanol and solutions of varying concentrations of t‐butanol in water. The phase diagram for the said system is developed, described and compared with similar systems studied such as Na₂S₂O₃+ethanol+water, K₂CO₃+methanol+water, etc. These results have been explained in terms of structural properties of aqueous t‐butanol solutions and further discussed in terms of the effect of ions to cause phase separation.     

About the intrinsic photochemical properties of the 11-cis retinal chromophore: computational clues for a trap state and a lever effect in Rhodopsin catalysis

CASPT2//CASSCF/6-31G* computations are used on the singlet S ₁ and S ₂ states to map the photoisomerization process of the 11-cis retinal protonated Schiff base in vacuo and to characterize its optical properties. It is shown that the spectroscopic observations recorded in Rhodopsin are reproduced quite well, calling for a substantially neutral effect of the protein. Furthermore, a rationale is proposed for the unreactive population recently observed in Rhodopsin, which is here addressed to the accessible S ₂ state, behaving as a trap. The experimental transient absorption and (absorption-wavelength dependent) emission are discussed and interpreted under the light of this novel model. Finally, a planarization of the β-ionone ring is observed on S ₁, which may cause a steric lever effect into the protein pocket, thus assisting photoisomerization catalysis. The reported results constitute a solid reference for further studies aimed to rationalize the effect of the environment on the photochemical reactivity of retinal chromophores. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Contribution to the Fernando Bernardi Memorial Issue.     

A SURVEY OF EPR INVESTIGATIONS OF BACTERIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Abstract— Investigations in which EPR has been used as a probe of the mechanism of the primary quantum conversion reaction and/or electron transport reactions in bacterial photosynthesis are surveyed. These investigations include studies of whole cell organisms and simpler sub-cellular preparations, chromatophores and bacteriochlorophyll-protein complexes. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies have successfully demonstrated that the primary donor of the photosynthetic, photochemical reaction involves a dimer of bacteriochlorophyll, generally referred to as P870. P870 is photochemically oxidized to a cation radical which exhibits a g= 2.0025 EPR signal. Comparative studies of the time behaviour of this signal in whole cells and in sub-cellular preparations show that electron flow in the whole cells is substantially different than in the cell-free systems. The primary acceptor molecule of the photochemical reaction has not been conclusively identified. When it is photochemically reduced, it exhibits a broad EPR absorbance centered at g= 1.8 observable only at low temperatures. This signal involves an iron atom and a quinone molecule. Two possible identifications of the species responsible for the g= 1.8 signal are an iron-quinone complex and an iron-sulfur protein. The latter identification would require that one primary acceptor function for two primary donors and that the removal of a tightly held quinone alter the integrity of the system so as to inhibit the photochemistry. When the primary acceptor is chemically reduced, a photo-induced, polarized triplet EPR spectrum is detected. Both absorption and emission lines are, observed as if only one substate (m= 0) of the triplet manifold is populated. The zero field parameters of the triplet spectrum suggest that the triplet is formed through a decay of a biradical, not through an optical singlet to triplet transition. Low temperature EPR studies of photosynthetic preparations which had been poised at room temperature by subjecting the preparations to different redox potentials and/or dark adaptation and illumination show the presence of a number of light-influenced, EPR active components. The spectral characteristics of these components are indicative of iron-heme (both low and high-spin forms) and iron-sulfur (both oxidized and reduced) proteins and at least one other organic free radical distinct from P870⁺. The spectra varied for different strains of bacteria. Also, some of the signals detected in the whole cell organism were not detected in cell free preparations and the kinetics of the light influenced signal amplitudes were different in the whole cells than in chromatophores.     

Biohybrid Organic Heterostructure Based on Chlorophyll-Bacteriochlorophyll Aggregates for Ecofriendly Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen energy is an abundant, clean, sustainable and environmentally friendly renewable energy source. Therefore, the production of hydrogen by photocatalytically splitting water on semiconductors has been considered in recent years as a promising and sustainable strategy for converting solar energy into chemical energy to replace conventional energy sources and to solve the growing problem of environmental pollution and the global energy crisis. However, highly efficient solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production remains a huge challenge due to the poor visible light response of available photocatalytic materials and the low efficiency of separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In the present work, organic heterojunction structures based on bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) and chlorophyll (Chl) molecules were introduced and used for solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light. Also, noble metal-free photocatalyst was successfully constructed on Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets by simple successive deposition of Chl and BChl, which was used for the photocatalytic splitting water to hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The results show that the optimal BChl@Chl@Ti₃C₂T_x composite has a high HER performance with 114 μmol/h/g_cat, which is much higher than the BChl@Ti₃C₂T_x and Chl@Ti₃C₂T_x composites.     

HL-LH2中色素分子间的单重激发态能量传递

采用飞秒时间分辨吸收光谱手段观测了在500和800 nm激发下高光培养的紫色光合细菌Rhodopseu-domonas(Rps). palustris外周捕光天线LH2(HL-LH2)中不同共轭链长类胡萝卜素(Carotenoid, 简称Car)和细菌叶绿素a(Bacteriachlorophyll a, 简称BChl a)的特征吸收光谱. 光谱动力学分析结果表明, HL-LH2中不同Car分子间可能存在复杂的单重激发态能量平衡过程, Car分子同时向BChl a分子发生多途径的单重激发态能量传递, B800主要接受来自Car的S2和S1态能量; B850则主要接受来自长共轭链Car(共轭双键数目n=13)的S1态和B800的激发态能量, 整个能量传递过程在3~5 ps内完成.