SPECTRAL SENSITIZATION OF SnO2 THIN FILM ELECTRODE BY THE J-AGGREGATE OF CYANINE DYES IN MONOLAYERS

Arachidic acid monolayers containing 5,6,5',6'-dibenzo-I,I-diethyl-2,2'-cyanine chloride were prepared by the spreading method and deposited on the SnO₂ surface using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The SnO₂ : dye assembly prepared in this manner was used as a photoelectrode of the conventional electrochemical cell. A distinct J-band was observed in the action spectra of sensitized anodic and cathodic photocurrents. Effects of calcium arachidate barriers inserted between dye layer and either SnO₂ electrode (inside barrier) or electrolyte solution (outside barrier) on the photocurrent were examined. Although the inside barrier was effective in decreasing both anodic and cathodic photocurrents, the outside barrier did not suppress cathodic photocurrent. The following mechanism involving a molecular exciton of the J-aggregate is proposed for the sensitized photocurrent. The anodic photocurrent is caused by hole trapping by some reducing agent and concomitant injection of the electron from molecular exciton to the conduction band of SnO₂. Extraction of conduction-band electron of SnO₂ by molecular exciton and supplying to some oxidizing agent such as dissolved oxygen are responsible for the cathodic photocurrent.     

LIGHT-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSPORT ACROSS SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRODE/REACTION-CENTER FILM/ELECTROLYTE INTERFACES

Abstract— Reaction center (RC) complexes isolated from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R-26 were dried as a film onto platinum and semiconductor (SnO₂) electrodes. The light-induced primary charge separation which occurs across the biological complex couples electrically with the SnO₂ but not with the metal electrode on the time scale of observation. As the working electrode in a two-electrode photoelectrochemical cell, RC-coated SnO₂ generated photovoltages as high as 80 mV and photocurrents as high as 0.5µA·cm² when exposed to light of λ >600nm. The number of quinone molecules per RC strongly influences the photovoltage and photocurrent observed. Photo-effects generated by RC electrodes persist after several days of storage; however, the kinetics and polarity of the effects are subject to change. The potential use of RC electrodes lies more as a new probe of photosynthetic electron transport rather than as a solar energy conversion device because modification to the RCs and their environment affect the electrical properties of the cell. An energy-level model is proposed to explain how the photoelectrochemical cell functions.     

Artificial photosynthesis by using chloroplasts from spinach adsorbed on a nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode for photovoltaic conversion

Photovoltaic conversion has been achieved by use of chloroplasts (photosynthetic organs) from spinach adsorbed on a nanocrystalline TiO₂ film on an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass electrode (chloroplast/TiO₂ electrode). The shape of the absorption spectrum of the chloroplast/TiO₂ electrode is almost the same that of a dispersion of the chloroplasts. Absorption maxima of the chloroplast/TiO₂ electrode observed at 430, 475, and 670 nm were attributed to carotenoid and chlorophyll molecules, suggesting that chloroplasts have been adsorbed by the nanocrystalline TiO₂ film on the ITO electrode. The photocurrent responses of chloroplast/TiO₂ electrodes were measured by using a solution of 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate in acetonitrile as redox electrolyte in the presence or absence of water and 100 mW cm^?2 irradiation. The photocurrent of the chloroplast/TiO₂ electrode was increased by adding water to the redox electrolyte. The photocurrent responses of chloroplast/TiO₂ electrodes irradiated with monochromatic light (680 nm, the absorption band of photosystem II complexed with evolved oxygen) were measured by use of a solution of 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate in acetonitrile as redox electrolyte in the presence or absence of water. A chloroplast/TiO₂ electrode photocurrent was observed only when the redox electrolyte containing water was used, indicating that the oxygen evolved from water by photosystem II in chloroplasts adsorbed by a nanocrystalline TiO₂ film on an ITO electrode irradiated at 680 nm is reduced to water by the catalytic activity of the platinum electrode. The maximum incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) was 0.8 % on irradiation at 670 nm.     

USE OF THE FLUORESCENT LANTHANIDE Tb3+ AS A PROBE FOR CATION-BINDING SITES ASSOCIATED WITH ISOLATED CHLOROPLAST THYLAKOID MEMBRANES

Abstract— The fluorescent properties of the rare-earth ion, Tb³⁺ have been utilized to probe the nature of cation-binding sites associated with thylakoid membranes. At low concentrations (< 100μ M ), Tb³⁺ was observed to inhibit the increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence normally seen on adding 5 m M MgCl₂ (or 100 m M NaCl) to isolated, broken chloroplasts. We also observed under these conditions, the appearance of a new band around 280 nm in the excitation spectrum of Tb³⁺ ion fluorescence. However, similar changes in Tb³⁺ fluorescence could be observed in the presence of a membrane-free preparation of chloroplast coupling factor protein (CF₁). From this and other results it is concluded that changes in Tb³⁺ fluorescence reflect an association of the ion with CF₁ followed by intermolecular transfer of excitation energy from protein ligands (possibly un-ionized tyrosine residues) to the lanthanide. The interaction of Tb³⁺ with sites which control chlorophyll a fluorescence does not seem to modify Tb³⁺ fluorescence, suggesting that in this case, simple membrane-bound ligands such as carboxyl or phosphate groups are involved.     

PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF CHLOROPHYLL-a MULTILAYERS ON SnO2 ELECTRODE

Photoelectrochemical behaviour of Chl- a multilayers, built up on SnO₂ optically transparent electrode by means of the Langmuir technique, was investigated in an electrolyte solution with or without hydroquinone as a reducing agent. Quantum efficiencies of the anodic photocurrents in the presence of hydroquinone tended to decrease with increasing number of layers. In the electrolyte without hydroquinone, the cathodic photocurrents were observed in the presence of dissolved oxygen. A possibility of a reaction of water with the oxidized Chl- a is suggested.     

AFFINITY FOR OXYGEN IN PHOTOREDUCTION OF MOLECULAR OXYGEN AND SCAVENGING OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— The apparent K _m for O₂ in the photoreduction of molecular oxygen by spinach class II chloroplasts and photosystem I subchloroplast fragments was determined. In both cases, a value of 2 ∼ 3 μ M O₂ was obtained. The reaction rate constant between O₂ and P-430, the primary electron acceptor of PS I, is estimated to be ∼ 1.5 × 10⁷ M ^-1 s^-1 and the factors affecting the production of superoxide by the photoreduction of O₂ in chloroplasts are discussed. Preliminary evidence is presented indicating the occurrence of an azide-insensitive scavenging system for H₂O₂ in chloroplast stroma.     

叶绿素敏化二氧化钛纳米管电极光电性能及其增强机理

为了研究叶绿素的敏化机理,本文以菠菜叶片叶绿素的乙醇浸提液敏化纳米管TiO_2电极,在Na2SO4水溶液电解液中测定其光电性能。敏化电极的光电流响应曲线显示,叶绿素浸提液敏化纳米管TiO_2电极时会显著改变电极的光电流值,而敏化Ti电极时则产生光电流极小。电极的循环伏安曲线则表明,叶绿素浸提液使电极上的氧化反应更容易发生。测定不同浓度的叶绿素浸提液敏化纳米管TiO_2电极的单色光光电转化效率(IPCE)图谱,结果表明,合适的叶绿素浓度(7.123~71.23μg/L)使电极IPCE平均增加2倍以上,但浓度增大至7123μg/L时,其敏化电极IPCE则明显降低;同时发现叶绿素的敏化作用未明显改变TiO_2电极IPCE图谱的特征谱峰位置。根据实验数据和结果,得出在水溶液中叶绿素改变纳米管TiO_2光电性能的机理,主要是通过叶绿素分子与TiO_2电极中的光生空穴发生反应,进而减少光生电子与空穴的复合,使电极有效光生电子数量增加,光电流密度增大,最终提高TiO_2电极的IPCE。     

Long-lived photoinduced charge separation in carbazole–pyrene–viologen system incorporated in Langmuir–Blodgett films of substituted diazacrown ethers

Diaza-18-crown-6 ethers appending two pyrenyl (Py) or two carbazolyl (Cz) groups were synthesized. These macrocyclic compounds form 1:1 host–guest complexes with methyl viologen chloride (MV²⁺), and these complexes were assembled into monolayers by Langmuir–Blodgett technique. The generated assembly involves the general structure of donor–sensitizer–acceptor (Cz–Py–MV²⁺) in space, although any of the photo- and redox-active components are not covalently bonded. Photoirradiation of the pyrenyl group resulted in the charge-separated pair Cz√⁺–Py–MV√⁺ which survived up to hours in a well anaerobic atmosphere. An electrode was fabricated by transferring the L–B film on an ITO glass. The photoinduced voltage of this electrode was measured with a saturated calomel reference electrode in hydroquinone (H₂Q) solution to be ca. 168 mV when the light intensity was 218 mW/cm². This electrode was also used as the light electrode to construct a photogalvanic cell with a platinum electrode as the dark electrode. Irradiation of the light electrode with visible light results in anodic photocurrent, and there is no net chemical change associated with the function of the cell which converts light to electricity.     

THERMOLUMINESCENCE EVIDENCE FOR CHLORIDE REQUIREMENT IN THE S2→S3 TRANSITION OF THE WATER-SPLITTING SYSTEM

Abstract— The role of chloride in photosynthetic oxygen evolution was investigated by means of thermoluminescence measurements. It was found that chloride depletion in isolated chloroplasts almost completely abolished the B₁ thermoluminescence band (S₃Q_B⁻ recombination) but diminished only slightly the amplitude of the B₂ band (S₂Q_B⁻ recombination). The B₂ band could be excited to full intensity by the first flash of a flash series and subsequent flashes caused no further change in the amplitude of the band. These observations suggest a block in the S₂→S₃ transition of the water-splitting system in chloride-depleted chloroplasts. Readdition of chloride provided evidence that the inhibitory effect of chloride removal is reversible.     

CAROTENOID TRIPLET STATE AND CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING IN CHLOROPLASTS AND SUBCHLOROPLAST PARTICLES

Abstract— Absorption changes attributed to the triplet state of carotenoids and to primary electron donors (P-700. P-680)^: and fluorescence quenching at several wavelengths have been measured with a single apparatus. following flash excitation with a dye or a ruby laser. Spinach chloroplasts as well as subchloroplast particles enriched in Photosystem-1 (F₁), Photosystem-2 (F₁) or the light-harvesting Chl a/h (F_III) have been examined at temperatures varying between 5 and 294 K.
The triplet state of carotenoids has been identified on the basis of its difference spectrum (having a peak at 515 nm) and decay kinetics (⋍ 7 µs at low temperature; accelerated by O₂ at 294 K). It is formed in all of the materials studied. The quantum yield of carotenoid triplet formation in chloroplasts increases at low temperature, but less than the fluorescence yield.
In most cases the fluorescence quenching recovers approximately with the same kinetics as the decay of the carotenoid triplets. The fluorescence recovery is, however, significantly faster for chloroplasts at 730 nm. Fluorescence quenching occurs in all types of materials. The ratio of fluorescence quenching to the concentration of carotenoid triplets varies with the material, being maximum in chloroplasts and minimum in F_m particles.
We conclude that the formation of the carotenoid triplet state is not limited to a few sites in the chloroplast and that a carotenoid triplet is a quencher of chlorophyll fluorescence. A detailed comparison of carotenoid triplets and fluorescence quenching gives some information concerning the organization of the pigments in the photosynthetic apparatus.     

PHOTOSYNTHETIC NITRITE REDUCTION BY DITHIOERYTHRITOL AND THE EFFECT OF NITRITE ON ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN ISOLATED CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract. Photosynthetic reduction of nitrite to ammonia with type C chloroplasts from the heterocont alga Bumilleriopsis filiformis was investigated using 3,6-diaminodurene/ascorbate and 3,6-diaminodurene/dithioerythritol (DAD/DTE) as electron donor couple. Rates approach 6–10 μmol NO^-₂ reduced/mg chlorophyll/h and are steady for up to 30 min. The presence of oxygen or NADP⁺ only slightly diminished the rates of nitrite reduction obtained with DAD/DTE. Illuminated chloroplasts reduce oxygen in the presence of DAD/DTE at 135 μmol/mg chlorophyll/h without acceptor supplied. Photosynthetic oxygen uptake by this system in the presence of ferredoxin and NO^-₂, however, is inhibited to 42% by nitrite reductase with concurrent nitrite reduction. NO^-₃ and NO^-₂ have no effect on photosystem I-mediated NADP⁺ reduction, NO^-₂ (10 m M ) inhibits ferricyanide-mediated oxygen evolution to 72%. Also photosystem II reactions assayed e.g. with silicomolybdate are inhibited significantly by NO^-₂ (1 m M ), but only slightly by NO^-₃. Nitrite reductase is inhibited by p -chloromercuribenzoate ( p CMB), and this inhibition is prevented by DTE. Results suggest that photosynthetic nitrite reduction can cope with low concentrations of either compound, provided relevant thiol groups are protected.     

利用强度调制光电流/光电压谱研究碳点/KOH电解液界面的动力学行为

通过强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)技术研究在光电分解水制氢体系中碳点光阳极与KOH电解液界面的动力学行为。结果表明,光强在30–90 m W·cm~(-2)范围内,界面的电子传输时间(τ_d)、电子寿命(τ_n)、电子扩散系数(D_n)、电子扩散长度(L_n)均没有变化;当光强增加到110和130 m W·cm~(-2)时,τ_d和τ_n延长,而D_n减小。实验表明,不同于Ti O_2/电解液等界面,碳点光电极/电解液界面中碳点电极存在的缺陷少,因此电子主要以无陷阱限制扩散方式传输为主。且在30–130 m W·cm~(-2)的光强范围内,与τ_d和τ_n相关的载流子收集效率(η_(cc))相近。     

Synthesis, X-ray structure and properties of a new nitrite-bound copper(II) complex with 2-(3,5- dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine in a CuN4(O) coordination

Synthesis and characterization of a nitrite-bound copper(II) compound [CuL⁴)₂(ONO)]ClO₄ have been achieved (L⁴ = 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine]. The bidentate ligand L⁴ provides a pyridine and a pyrazole donor site; however, they are separated by a methylene spacer. The complex has been structurally characterized and it belongs to only a handful of complexes having nitrito-bound mononuclear copper(II) centre. The metal atom has a distorted square pyramidal geometry with the copper atom displaced from the equatorial plane by 0.25 Å. In MeCN solution the green complex exhibits a broad ligand-field transition at 655 nm with a shoulder at 675 nm and in dichloromethane-toluene glass (80 K) it exhibits an EPR spectral feature characteristic of the unpaired electron in the d_x²−y² orbital. Variable-temperature (80–300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements in the solid state as well as room temperature measurement in MeCN solution reveal mononuclear magnetically dilute copper(II) centre. When examined by cyclic voltammetry (MeCN solution) it displays electrochemically irreversible Cu^II---Cu^I response [cathodic peak potential, E_pc (V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE)): −0.32]. An oxidative response is observed at 1.14 V, probably due to bound-nitrite oxidation and is partially removed to generate a solvated complex at the electrode surface. The latter species gives rise to reversible Cu^II---Cu^I redox response [ ].     

LASER PHOTOLYSIS OF 3-METHYLLUMIFLAVIN

Abstract— Using high-intensity actinic light, the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient from HCO^-₃-depleted chloroplasts shows a rapid initial rise (O → I) followed by a slow phase (I → P). In the presence of HCO^-₃, the O → I rise is delayed but the I → P phase is much more rapid. Using low-intensity actinic light, the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient from 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1 dimethylurea (DCMU)-treated chloroplasts is delayed in the presence of HCO^-₃. Bicarbonate increases the amount of delayed light emission from chloroplasts given 10 s illumination with weak blue light (0·4 W/m²). DCMU greatly increases the amount of delayed light seen in the presence of HCO^-₃ under these conditions but decreases the amount seen in the absence of HCO^-₃. It is suggested that HCO^-₃ may somehow form or stabilize, in the dark, a number of reaction centers corresponding to the S₁ state in the model of B. Forbush, B. Kok and M. McGloin ( Photochem. Photobiol. 14, 307–321, 1971).     

Electrochemical Study and Application on Shikonin at Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) Functionalized Graphene Sheets Modified Glass Carbon Electrode

The electrochemical behaviors of shikonin at a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) functionalized graphene sheets modified glass carbon electrode(PDDA-GS/GCE) have been investigated. Shikonin could exhibit a pair of well-defined redox peaks at the PDDA-GS/GCE located at 0.681 V(E_pa) and 0.662 V(E_pc)[vs. saturated calomel electrode(SCE)] in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer solution(pH=2.0) with a peak-to-peak separation of about 20 mV, revealing a fast electron-transfer process. Moreover, the current response was remarkably increased at PDDA-GS/GCE compared with that at the bare GCE. The electrochemical behaviors of shikonin at the modified electrode were investigated. And the results indicate that the reaction involves the transfer of two electrons, accompanied by two protons and the electrochemical process is a diffusional-controlled electrode process. The electrochemical parameters of shikonin at the modified electrode, the electron-transfer coefficient(α), the electron-transfer number(n) and the electrode reaction rate constant(k_s) were calculated to be as 0.53, 2.18 and 3.6 s^-1, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the peak current of differential pulse voltammetry(DPV) increased linearly with the shikonin concentration in a range from 9.472×10^-8 mol/L to 3.789×10^-6 mol/L with a detection limit of 3.157×10^-8 mol/L. The linear regression equation was I_p=0.7366c+0.7855(R=0.9978; I_p: 10^-7 A, c: 10^-8 mol/L). In addition, the modified glass carbon electrode also exhibited good stability, selectivity and acceptable reproducibility that could be used for the sensitive, simple and rapid determination of shikonin in real samples. Therefore, the present work offers a new way to broaden the analytical application of graphene in pharmaceutical analysis.     

Chlorophyll sensitized BiVO4 as photoanode for solar water splitting and CO2 conversion

Converting solar energy into valuable hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels through photoelectrocatalytic water splitting and CO_2 reduction is highly promising in addressing the growing demand for renewable and clean energy resources. However, the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency is still very low due to limited light absorption and rapid bulk recombination of charge carriers. In this work, we present chlorophyll(Chl) and its derivative sodium copper chlorophyllin(ChlCuNa), as dye sensitizers, modified BiVO_4 to improve the photoelectrochemical(PEC) performance. The photocurrent of BiVO_4 is surprisingly decreased after a direct sensitization of Chl while the sensitization of ChlCuNa obviously enhances photocurrent of BiV04 electrodes by improved surface hydrophilicity and extended light absorption.ChlCuNa-sensitized BiV04 achieves an improved H_2 evolution rate of 5.43 μmol h~(-1) cm~(-2) in water splitting and an enhanced HCOOH production rate of 2.15 μmol h~(-1) cm~(-2) in CO_2 PEC reduction, which are1.9 times and 2.4 times higher than pristine BiVO_4, respectively. It is suggested that the derivative ChlCuNa is a more effective sensitizer for solar-to-fuel energy conversion and CO_2 utilization than Chl.     

氢氧化钠水溶液体系中金属铬的电化学氧化过程

铬铁电氧化溶出技术是一种全新的制备铬酸钠的方法,具有反应条件温和、过程可控、工艺环保等优点,然而金属铬在NaOH水溶液中的电化学氧化过程尚不明确. 本文采用循环伏安法（CV）和阳极极化法（LSV）对金属铬在NaOH水溶液中的电化学氧化过程进行研究. 使用EDS、SEM、XRD和XPS对电解前后的金属铬表征,判断中间物的产生,使用紫外可见分光光度计验证电解液中生成了铬酸钠. 结果表明,金属铬和中间产物Cr(OH)₃可能依次发生电化学氧化直接生成Na₂CrO₄,阳极极化为金属铬的活化. 随着NaOH溶液浓度的增加,Cr(OH)₃和Na₂CrO₄的生成量在增加,金属铬电化学氧化制备铬酸钠的适宜条件为碱浓度≥ 2 mol·L^-1,阳极电势≥ 1.6 V（vs. SCE）.     

Influence of pyrimidine additives in electrolytic solution on dye-sensitized solar cell performance

The influence of pyrimidine additives on the performance of a bis(tetrabutylammonium)cis-bis(thiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid, 4′-carboxylate)ruthenium(II) dye-sensitized TiO₂ solar cell with an I⁻/I₃⁻ redox electrolyte in acetonitrile was studied. The current–voltage characteristics were measured for more than 10 different pyrimidine derivatives under AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm²). The pyrimidine additives tested had varying effects on the performance of the cell. The additives drastically enhanced the open-circuit photovoltage (V_oc) and the solar energy conversion efficiency (η), but usually reduced the short circuit photocurrent density (J_sc) of the solar cell. Physical and chemical properties of the pyrimidines were computationally calculated in order to determine the reasons for the additive effects on cell performance. Consequently, the greater the calculated partial charge of the nitrogen atoms in the pyrimidine groups, the larger the V_oc but the smaller the J_sc values. The V_oc of the cell also increased as the ionization energy of the pyrimidine molecules decreased. Moreover, as the calculated dipole moment of the pyrimidine derivatives increased, the J_sc value was reduced, but the V_oc value was enhanced. These results suggest that the electron donicity of pyrimidine additives influenced the interaction with TiO₂ electrode and I⁻/I₃⁻ electrolyte, which lead to the changes in dye-sensitized solar cell performance.     

COOPERATION OF CHARGES IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC O2 EVOLUTION–I. A LINEAR FOUR STEP MECHANISM

Abstract— Using isolated chloroplasts and techniques as described by Joliot and Joliot[6] we studied the evolution of O₂ in weak light and light flashes to analyze the interactions between light induced O₂ precursors and their decay in darkness. The following observations and conclusions are reported: 1. Light flashes always produce the same number of oxidizing equivalents either as precursor or as O₂. 2. The number of unstable precursor equivalents present during steady state photosynthesis is ∼ 1.2 per photochemical trapping center. 3. The cooperation of the four photochemically formed oxidizing equivalents occurs essentially in the individual reaction centers and the final O₂ evolution step is a one quantum process. 4. The data are compatible with a linear four step mechanism in which a trapping center, or an associated catalyst, ( S ) successively accumulates four + charges. The S ⁴⁺ state produces O₂ and returns to the ground state S ₀. 5. Besides S ₀ also the first oxidized state S ⁺ is stable in the dark, the two higher states, S²⁺ and S³⁺ are not. 6. The relaxation times of some of the photooxidation steps were estimated. The fastest reaction, presumably S *₁← S ₂, has a (first) half time ≤ 200 μsec. The S *₂ state and probably also the S *₀ state are processed somewhat more slowly (˜ 300–400 μsec).     

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis of chalcopyrite CuFeS2 electrodes

A chalcopyrite CuFeS₂ electrode obtained from the “El Teniente” mine has been studied by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in an alkaline solution for different oxidation potentials. The experimental results can be interpreted from a Randles equivalent circuit, V_dc<0.4 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE), and a surface layer model for V_dc>0.4 V vs. SCE. From these results, the variation with the d.c. applied potentials of charge transfer electrical resistance of the redox reaction, the double layer capacitance and other characteristic parameters are considered.