Photoinduced electron transfer at liquid|liquid interfaces. Part VII. Correlation between self-organisation and structure of water-soluble photoactive species

The self-organisation of a variety of dyes at the water|1,2-dichloroethane interface was studied by admittance measurements, photocurrent–potential curves and light polarisation anisotropy of the photocurrent. The heterogeneous photo-oxidation of ferrocene was studied at interfaces sensitised by Sn(IV) meso-tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin dichloride (SnTPPC), chlorin e-6, protoporphyrin IX (protoIX) and Fe(III) protoporphyrin IX chloride (Fe-protoIX). Cyclic voltammograms and capacitance voltage curves exhibit different features associated with the self-assembly of the dye species at the liquid|liquid boundary. In the case of SnTPPC, the capacitance curves displayed the characteristic responses commonly associated with the specific adsorption of ionic species. On the other hand, chlorin e-6, protoIX and Fe-protoIX show rather complex behaviour suggesting not only changes in the excess charge but also in the dielectric permittivity of the interface. Differences in the photocurrent efficiency were also observed under the same experimental conditions. The relative magnitude of the photocurrent responses were rationalised in terms of the phenomenological electron transfer rate constant, the photon capture cross-sections and the lifetime of the triplet state as obtained from nanosecond flash photolysis. Finally, the average molecular orientation of the adsorbed photoactive species was estimated from the photocurrent dependence on the angle of light polarisation in total internal reflection. The results show a clear correlation between the orientation of the transition dipole and the distribution of the peripheral carboxyl groups responsible for the hydrophilic nature of the dyes.