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Multi-electron transfer photochemistry

Caught in the act

Nature Chemistry volume 10, pages 3–4 (2018)Cite this article

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The accumulation of multiple redox equivalents is essential in photo-driven catalytic reactions such as solar water splitting. However, direct spectroscopic observation of a twice-oxidized species under diffuse illumination has proved elusive until now.

Now, writing in Nature Chemistry, Hsiang-Yun Chen and Shane Ardo2 provide direct spectroscopic evidence of photo-induced hole accumulation at a molecular assembly under conditions that mimic solar illumination. This accomplishment is achieved using an assembly that features a well-known molecular photosensitizer — ruthenium polypyridine — co-anchored with a bistriphenylamine-based complex on TiO2 particles (Fig. 1b).

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Figure 1: Multi-step electron transfer in molecular systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Molecular Sciences and Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery at Arizona State University, Tempe, 85287, Arizona, USA

    Anna M. Beiler & Gary F. Moore

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  1. Anna M. Beiler
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  2. Gary F. Moore
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Correspondence to Gary F. Moore.

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Beiler, A., Moore, G. Caught in the act. Nature Chem 10, 3–4 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2896

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