Synergy of Electrostatic and π–π Interactions in the Realization of Nanoscale Artificial Photosynthetic Model Systems

Anaya-Plaza E, Joseph J, Bauroth S, Wagner M, Dolle C, Sekita M, Gröhn F, Spiecker E, Clark T, de la Escosura A, Guldi DM, Torres T (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Wiley

DOI: 10.1002/anie.202006014

Abstract

In the scientific race to build up photoactive electron donor-acceptor systems with increasing efficiencies, little is known about the interplay of their building blocks when integrated into supramolecular nanoscale arrays, particularly in aqueous environments. Here, we describe an aqueous donor-acceptor ensemble whose emergence as a nanoscale material renders it remarkably stable and efficient. We have focused on a tetracationic zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) featuring pyrenes, which shows an unprecedented mode of aggregation, driven by subtle cooperation between electrostatic and π–π interactions. Our studies demonstrate monocrystalline growth in solution and a symmetry-breaking intermolecular charge transfer between adjacent ZnPcs upon photoexcitation. Immobilizing a negatively charged fullerene (C60) as electron acceptor onto the monocrystalline ZnPc assemblies was found to enhance the overall stability, and to suppress the energy-wasting charge recombination found in the absence of C60. Overall, the resulting artificial photosynthetic model system exhibits a high degree of preorganization, which facilitates efficient charge separation and subsequent charge transport.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jan Joseph Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie I Stefan Bauroth Sonderforschungsbereich 953/3 Synthetische Kohlenstoffallotrope Maximilian Wagner Professur für Molekulare Nanostrukturen Christian Dolle Sonderforschungsbereich 953/3 Synthetische Kohlenstoffallotrope Michael Sekita Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie I Franziska Gröhn Professur für Molekulare Nanostrukturen Erdmann Spiecker Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Timothy Clark Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät Dirk Michael Guldi Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie I

Additional Organisation(s)

Interdisziplinäres Zentrum, Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM) Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung)

Related research project(s)

Aberration-Corrected High-Resolution and in situ Transmission Electron Microscopy of Carbon Allotropes and Related Device Structures (Z02) (SFB 953) SFB 953: Synthetic Carbon Allotropes (SFB 953) Jan. 1, 2012 - Jan. 1, 2015

Involved external institutions

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) ES Spain (ES)

How to cite

APA:

Anaya-Plaza, E., Joseph, J., Bauroth, S., Wagner, M., Dolle, C., Sekita, M.,... Torres, T. (2020). Synergy of Electrostatic and π–π Interactions in the Realization of Nanoscale Artificial Photosynthetic Model Systems. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202006014

MLA:

Anaya-Plaza, Eduardo, et al. "Synergy of Electrostatic and π–π Interactions in the Realization of Nanoscale Artificial Photosynthetic Model Systems." Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2020).

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