Light‐Harvesting Hybrid Assemblies

Light‐harvesting hybrids have gained much importance as they are considered as potential mimics for photosynthetic systems. In this Concept article we introduce the design concepts involved in the building up of light‐harvesting hybrids; these resemble the well‐studied organic‐based assemblies for energy transfer. We have structured this article into three parts based on the strategies adopted in the synthesis of hybrid assemblies, as covalent, semicovalent, and noncovalent procedures. Furthermore, the properties and structural features of the hybrids and analogous organic assemblies are compared. We also emphasize the challenges involved in the processability of these hybrid materials for device applications and present our views and results to address this issue through the design of soft‐hybrids by a solution‐state, noncovalent, self‐assembly process.     

G‐Quartet‐Based Nanostructure for Mimicking Light‐Harvesting Antenna

Artificial light‐harvesting systems have received great attention for use in photosynthetic and optoelectronic devices. Herein, a system involving G‐quartet‐based hierarchical nanofibers generated from the self‐assembly of guanosine 5′‐monophosphate (GMP) and a two‐step Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is presented that mimics natural light‐harvesting antenna. This solid‐state property offers advantages for future device fabrication. The generation of photocurrent under visible light shows it has potential for use as a nanoscale photoelectric device. The work will be beneficial for the development of light‐harvesting systems by the self‐assembly of supramolecular nanostructures.     

A Supramolecular Artificial Light‐Harvesting System with Two‐Step Sequential Energy Transfer for Photochemical Catalysis

An artificial light‐harvesting system with sequential energy‐transfer process was fabricated based on a supramolecular strategy. Self‐assembled from the host–guest complex formed by water‐soluble pillar[5]arene (WP5), a bola‐type tetraphenylethylene‐functionalized dialkyl ammonium derivative (TPEDA), and two fluorescent dyes, Eosin Y (ESY) and Nile Red (NiR), the supramolecular vesicles achieve efficient energy transfer from the AIE guest TPEDA to ESY. ESY can function as a relay to further transfer the energy to the second acceptor NiR and realize a two‐step sequential energy‐transfer process with good efficiency. By tuning the donor/acceptor ratio, bright white light emission can be successfully achieved with a CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.33). To better mimic natural photosynthesis and make full use of the harvested energy, the WP5?TPEDA‐ESY‐NiR system can be utilized as a nanoreactor: photocatalyzed dehalogenation of α‐bromoacetophenone was realized with 96 % yield in aqueous medium.     

Long‐Distance Electronic Energy Transfer in Light‐Harvesting Supramolecular Polymers

The efficient collection of solar energy relies on the design and construction of well‐organized light‐harvesting systems. Herein we report that supramolecular phenanthrene polymers doped with pyrene are effective collectors of light energy. The linear polymers are formed through the assembly of short amphiphilic oligomers in water. Absorption of light by phenanthrene residues is followed by electronic energy transfer along the polymer over long distances (>100 nm) to the accepting pyrene molecules. The high efficiency of the energy transfer, which is documented by large fluorescence quantum yields, suggests a quantum coherent process.     

Highly Efficient Singlet–Singlet Energy Transfer in Light‐Harvesting [60,70]Fullerene–4‐Amino‐1,8‐naphthalimide Dyads

New C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerene dyads formed with 4‐amino‐1,8‐naphthalimide chromophores have been prepared by the Bingel cyclopropanation reaction. The resulting monoadducts were investigated with respect to their fluorescence properties (quantum yields and lifetimes) to unravel the role of the charge‐transfer naphthalimide chromophore as a light‐absorbing antenna and excited‐singlet‐state sensitizer of fullerenes. The underlying intramolecular singlet–singlet energy transfer (EnT) process was fully characterized and found to proceed quantitatively (Φ_EnT≈1) for all dyads. Thus, these conjugates are of considerable interest for applications in which fullerene excited states have to be created and photonic energy loss should be minimized. In polar solvents (tetrahydrofuran and benzonitrile), fluorescence quenching of the fullerene by electron transfer from the ground‐state aminonaphthalimide was postulated as an additional path.     

Highly Branched Polymers with Layered Structures that Mimic Light‐Harvesting Processes

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) with decorated donor and acceptor chromophores in different domains were constructed to demonstrate the function of light harvesting in a polymeric nanostructure. Taking advantage of our recently developed chain‐growth copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition polymerization, two structural parameters in the HBPs, for example, the molar ratio of the acceptor Coumarin 343 in the core to the donor Coumarin 2 on the periphery, and the average distance between these two layers, could be independently varied in a one‐pot synthesis. The results demonstrated an efficient energy transfer from the excited Coumarin 2 to the ground‐state Coumarin 343 in the core, with the efficiency of the energy transfer reaching as high as 98 %. The excited Coumarin 343, after receiving energy from donor Coumarin 2 emitted higher fluorescence intensity than when directly excited, indicating an observed light concentration effect from the periphery dye to the central dye in one polymer structure.     

Selective Functionalization of Fullerenes with N,N‐Dihalosulfonamides as an N1 Unit: Versatile Syntheses of Aza[60]fulleroids and Aziridino[60]fullerenes and their Application to Photovoltaic Cells

Highly selective and versatile methods for the synthesis of aza[60]fulleroids and aziridino[60]fullerenes from C₆₀ have been developed. The reactions utilized N,N‐dihalosulfonamides as an N₁ source. The photophysical, electrochemical, and thermal properties of the iminofullerenes were investigated by means of UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and thermogravimetry, respectively. Furthermore, photovoltaic cells based on the synthesized iminofullerenes were fabricated. The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the devices showed moderate values ranging from 1.33 to 2.35 %.     

Structure‐Dependent Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Fullerodendrimers with Light‐Harvesting Oligophenylenevinylene Terminals

Oligophenylenevinylene (OPV)‐terminated phenylenevinylene dendrons G1 – G4 with one, two, four, and eight “side‐arms”, respectively, were prepared and attached to C₆₀ by a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from dendritic aldehydes and N‐methylglycine. The relative electronic absorption of the OPV moiety increases progressively along the fullerodendrimer family C₆₀G1 – C₆₀G4 , reaching a 99:1 ratio for C₆₀G4 (antenna effect). UV/Vis and near‐IR luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy was used to elucidate photoinduced energy and electron transfer in C₆₀G1 – C₆₀G4 as a function of OPV moiety size and solvent polarity (toluene, dichloromethane, benzonitrile), taking into account the fact that the free‐energy change for electron transfer is the same along the series owing to the invariability of the donor–acceptor couple. Regardless of solvent, all the fullerodendrimers exhibit ultrafast OPV→C₆₀ singlet energy transfer. In CH₂Cl₂, the OPV→C₆₀ electron transfer from the lowest fullerene singlet level (¹C₆₀*) is slightly exergonic (ΔG_CS≈0.07 eV), but is observed, to an increasing extent, only in the largest systems C₆₀G2 – C₆₀G4 with lower activation barriers for electron transfer. This effect has been related to a decrease of the reorganization energy upon enlargement of the molecular architecture. Structural factors are also at the origin of an unprecedented OPV→C₆₀ electron transfer observed for C₆₀G3 and C₆₀G4 in apolar toluene, whereas in benzonitrile, electron transfer occurs in all cases. Monitoring of the lowest fullerene triplet state by sensitized singlet oxygen luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy shows that this level is populated through intersystem crossing and is not involved in photoinduced electron transfer.     

Cyclic Tetramers of Zinc Chlorophylls as a Coupled Light‐Harvesting Antenna–Charge‐Separation System

A coupled light‐harvesting antenna–charge‐separation system, consisting of self‐assembled zinc chlorophyll derivatives that incorporate an electron‐accepting unit, is reported. The cyclic tetramers that incorporated an electron acceptor were constructed by the co‐assembly of a pyridine‐appended zinc chlorophyll derivative, ZnPy , and a zinc chlorophyll derivative further decorated with a fullerene unit, ZnPyC₆₀ . Comprehensive steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopic studies were conducted for the individual tetramers of ZnPy and ZnPyC₆₀ as well as their co‐tetramers. Intra‐assembly singlet energy transfer was confirmed by singlet–singlet annihilation in the ZnPy tetramer. Electron transfer from the singlet chlorin unit to the fullerene unit was clearly demonstrated by the transient absorption of the fullerene radical anion in the ZnPyC₆₀ tetramer. Finally, with the co‐tetramer, a coupled light‐harvesting and charge‐separation system with practically 100 % quantum efficiency was demonstrated.     

Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of a Biomimetic Light‐Harvesting Antenna Based on DNA G‐Quadruplexes

A new modular approach to an artificial light‐harvesting antenna system is presented. The approach involves the hierarchical self‐assembly of porphyrin acceptor molecules to G‐quadruplexes tethered to coumarin donor moieties.     

Dephasing and Dissipation in a Source–Drain Model of Light‐Harvesting Systems

The energy transport process in natural‐light‐harvesting systems is investigated by solving the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation for a source–network–drain model incorporating the effects of dephasing and dissipation, owing to coupling with the environment. In this model, the network consists of electronically coupled chromophores, which can host energy excitations (excitons) and are connected to source channels, from which the excitons are generated, thereby simulating exciton creation from sunlight. After passing through the network, excitons are captured by the reaction centers and converted into chemical energy. In addition, excitons can reradiate in green plants as photoluminescent light or be destroyed by nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). These annihilation processes are described in the model by outgoing channels, which allow the excitons to spread to infinity. Besides the photoluminescent reflection, the NPQ processes are the main outgoing channels accompanied by energy dissipation and dephasing. From the simulation of wave‐packet dynamics in a one‐dimensional chain, it is found that, without dephasing, the motion remains superdiffusive or ballistic, despite the strong energy dissipation. At an increased dephasing rate, the wave‐packet motion is found to switch from superdiffusive to diffusive in nature. When a steady energy flow is injected into a site of a linear chain, exciton dissipation along the chain, owing to photoluminescence and NPQ processes, is examined by using a model with coherent and incoherent outgoing channels. It is found that channel coherence leads to suppression of dissipation and multiexciton super‐radiance. With this method, the effects of NPQ and dephasing on energy transfer in the Fenna–Matthews–Olson complex are investigated. The NPQ process and the photochemical reflection are found to significantly reduce the energy‐transfer efficiency in the complex, whereas the dephasing process slightly enhances the efficiency. The calculated absorption spectrum reproduces the main features of the measured counterpart. As a comparison, the exciton dynamics are also studied in a linear chain of pigments and in a multiple‐ring system of light‐harvesting complexes II (LH2) from purple bacteria by using the Davydov D₁ ansatz. It is found that the exciton transport shows superdiffusion characteristics in both the chain and the LH2 rings.     

Photochemical Bleaching of an Elaborate Artificial Light‐Harvesting Antenna

The target artificial light‐harvesting antenna, comprising 21 discrete chromophores arranged in a logical order, undergoes photochemical bleaching when dispersed in a thin plastic film. The lowest‐energy component, which has an absorption maximum at 660 nm, bleaches through first‐order kinetics at a relatively fast rate. The other components bleach more slowly, in part, because their excited‐state lifetimes are rendered relatively short by virtue of fast intramolecular electronic energy transfer to the terminal acceptor. Two of the dyes, these being close to the terminal acceptor but interconnected through a reversible energy‐transfer step, bleach by way of an autocatalytic step. Loss of the terminal acceptor, thereby switching off the energy‐transfer route, escalates the rate of bleaching of these ancillary dyes. The opposite terminal, formed by a series of eight pyrene‐based chromophores, does not bleach to any significant degree. Confirmation of the various bleaching steps is obtained by examination of an antenna lacking the terminal acceptor, where the autocatalytic route does not exist and bleaching is very slow.     

Guest‐Induced Photophysical Property Switching of Artificial Light‐Harvesting Dendrimers

An artificial light‐harvesting multiporphyrin dendrimer ( 8P_ZnP_FB ) composed of a focal freebase porphyrin ( P_FB ) with eight zinc(II) porphyrin ( P_Zn ) wings exhibited unique photophysical property switching in response to specific guest molecule binding. UV/Vis titration studies indicated stable 1:2 host–guest complex formation between 8P_ZnP_FB and meso‐tetrakis(4‐pyridyl)‐porphyrin ( TPyP ) for which the first and second association constants were estimated to be >10⁸ M ^?1 and 3.0×10⁷ M ^?1, respectively. 8P_ZnP_FB originally shows 94 % energy transfer efficiency from P_Zn to the focal P_FB . By the formation of the host–guest complex ( 8P_ZnP_FB? 2 TPyP ) the emission intensity of 8P_ZnP_FB is significantly decreased, and an ultrafast charge separation state is generated. The energy transfer process from P_Zn wings to the P_FB core in 8P_ZnP_FB is almost entirely switched to an electron transfer process by the formation of 8P_ZnP_FB? 2 TPyP .     

Carbon Dots: Bottom‐Up Syntheses,Properties, and Light‐Harvesting Applications

The development of cost‐effective and environmentally friendly photocatalysts and photosensitizers has received tremendous attention because of their potential utilization in solar‐light‐harvesting applications. In this respect, carbon dots (CDs) prepared by bottom‐up methods have been considered to be promising light‐harvesting materials. Through their preparation from various molecular precursors and synthetic methods, CDs exhibit excellent optical and charge‐transfer properties. Furthermore, their photophysical properties can be readily optimized and enhanced by means of doping, functionalization, and post‐synthetic treatment. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in CDs synthesized using bottom‐up approaches. These CDs exhibit strong light absorption and unique electron donor/acceptor capabilities for light‐harvesting applications. We anticipate that this review will provide new insights into novel types of photosensitizers and photocatalysts for a wide range of applications.     

Multichromophoric Organic Molecules Encapsulated in Polymer Nanoparticles for Artificial Light Harvesting

We designed a self‐assembled multichromophoric organic molecular arrangement inside polymer nanoparticles for light‐harvesting antenna materials. The self‐assembled molecular arrangement of quaterthiophene molecules was found to be an efficient light‐absorbing antenna material, followed by energy transfer to Nile red (NR) dye molecules, which was confined in polymer nanoparticles. The efficiency of the antenna effect was found to be 3.2 and the effective molar extinction coefficient of acceptor dye molecules was found to be enhanced, which indicates an efficient light‐harvesting system. Based on this energy‐transfer process, tunable photo emission and white light emission has been generated with 14 % quantum yield. Such self‐assembled oligothiophene–NR systems encapsulated in polymer nanoparticles may open up new possibilities for fabrication of artificial light harvesting system.     

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.     

Synthesis and Functional Reconstitution of Light‐Harvesting Complex II into Polymeric Membrane Architectures

One of most important processes in nature is the harvesting and dissipation of solar energy with the help of light‐harvesting complex II (LHCII). This protein, along with its associated pigments, is the main solar‐energy collector in higher plants. We aimed to generate stable, highly controllable, and sustainable polymer‐based membrane systems containing LHCII–pigment complexes ready for light harvesting. LHCII was produced by cell‐free protein synthesis based on wheat‐germ extract, and the successful integration of LHCII and its pigments into different membrane architectures was monitored. The unidirectionality of LHCII insertion was investigated by protease digestion assays. Fluorescence measurements indicated chlorophyll integration in the presence of LHCII in spherical as well as planar bilayer architectures. Surface plasmon enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS) was used to reveal energy transfer from chlorophyll b to chlorophyll a, which indicates native folding of the LHCII proteins.     

DNA‐Based Oligochromophores as Light‐Harvesting Systems

The chromophores ethynyl pyrene as blue, ethynyl perylene as green and ethynyl Nile red as red emitter were conjugated to the 5‐position of 2′‐deoxyuridine via an acetylene bridge. Using phosphoramidite chemistry on solid phase labelled DNA duplexes were prepared that bear single chromophore modifications, and binary and ternary combinations of these chromophore modifications. The steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence spectra of all three chromophores were studied in these modified DNA duplexes. An energy‐transfer cascade occurs from ethynyl pyrene over ethynyl perylene to ethynyl Nile red and subsequently an electron‐transfer cascade in the opposite direction (from ethynyl Nile red to ethynyl perylene or ethynyl pyrene, but not from ethynyl perylene to ethynyl pyrene). The electron‐transfer processes finally provide charge separation. The efficiencies by these energy and electron‐transfer processes can be tuned by the distances between the chromophores and the sequences. Most importantly, excitation at any wavelength between 350 and 700 nm finally leads to charge separated states which make these DNA samples promising candidates for light‐harvesting systems.