Photoinduced electron transfer between the anionic porphyrins and viologens in titania nanosheets and monodisperse mesoporous silica hybrid films

Vapor-Induced Assembly of a Platinum(II) Complex Loaded on Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles

Controlled self-assembly of PtII complexes is key to the development of optical and stimuli-responsive materials, but designing and precisely controlling them is still difficult owing to weak intermolecular interactions. Herein, we report the successful water-vapor-induced assembly of an anionic PtII complex [Pt(CN)2 (ppy)]- (Hppy=2-phenylpyridine) electrostatically loaded onto cationically charged layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles consisting of Mg2+ and Al3+ ions. When the PtII complexes were densely loaded onto the LDH nanoparticles, the assembly was maintained, even in dilute aqueous media. In the case of sparse loading, the PtII complexes were loaded discretely in the dry state; however, when water vapor was adsorbed, the increased mobility of the PtII complexes led to their assembly on the LDH nanoparticles. The presence of water vapor led to a drastic change in luminescence from green to orange.

Electroassisted Incorporation of Ferrocene within Sol-Gel Silica Films to Enhance Electron Transfer

The sol-gel method is a straightforward technique that allows electrode modification with silica thin films. Furthermore, the silica pores could be functionalized to enhance the electrical conductivity and reactivity of the silica films. In this context, silica thin films were functionalized with ferrocene species. This functionalization was performed by electroassisted accumulation, generating a micro-structured composite electrode (Fc@SiO2 electrode). These modified electrodes were characterized by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods, pointing out that ferrocene species were confined with high stability within the microporous silica thin film, demonstrating the good adsorption capacity of the silica. While the spectroelectrochemical characterization indicates that only a fraction of the confined species within the silica films were electroactive, the electrochemical results demonstrate that the Fc@SiO2 film enhances the electrochemical response of cytochrome c in a solution, which gives rise to further applications of these films for redox-controlled release and electrochemical detection of other redox-active proteins.

Preparation of Stable Silver Nanoparticles Having Wide Red-To-Near-Infrared Extinction

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) within the interlayer space of transparent layered titania nanosheet (TNS) films is investigated. A considerable number of silver ions (≈70% against the cation exchange capacity of the TNS) are intercalated in the TNS films using methyl-viologen-containing TNSs as a precursor. The silver ion (Ag+)-containing TNS films are treated with aqueous sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH4), resulting in a gradual color change to bright blue. Various structural analyses clearly show that crystalline AgNPs are generated within the interlayer space of the TNSs. The NaBH4-treated films show intense and characteristic near-infrared (NIR) extinction spectra up to 1800 nm. The stability of the AgNPs within the TNS against oxygen and moisture is also investigated, and 96% and 82% of the AgNPs remain after standing in air for 1 month and 1 year, respectively. The NIR extinctions of the AgNP-containing TNS films are further extended by employing different preparation procedures, for example, using sintered TNS films as starting materials and irradiating the Ag+-containing TNSs with ultraviolet (UV) light. The obtained AgNP-containing TNS films exhibit photochemical activities in the production of hydrogen from ammonia borane under visible-light irradiation and the decomposition of nitrogen monoxide under UV-light irradiation.

Effects of cucurbit[n]uril (n = 7, 8, 10) hosts on the formation and stabilization of a naphthalenediimide (NDI) radical anion

The binding interactions of a NDI diammonium dichloride salt with cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n], n = 7,8, 10) and the formation process of a NDI radical anion upon photoexcitation of the NDI derivative in the presence of a CB[n] host have been investigated.

Visible-Light Photoinduced Electron Transfer Promoted by Cucurbit[8]uril-Enhanced Charge Transfer Interaction: Toward Improved Activity of Photocatalysis

Visible-light photoinduced electron transfer (Vis-PET) is highly important for optoelectronic devices and photoredox catalysis. Herein, we propose a supramolecular strategy to promote the Vis-PET process by charge transfer (CT) interactions. As a proof of concept, a molecular system containing 1,5-alkoxy-substituted naphthalene and viologen moieties was designed to form a CT complex in water. The HOMO/LUMO energy gap was lowered by CT interaction, which turned on the Vis-PET process to generate viologen radical cations. Moreover, when CT interaction was enhanced by cucurbit[8]uril, the efficiency of the Vis-PET process was further promoted and the required irradiation wavelength could be further red-shifted by 100 nm. The Vis-PET system exhibited an improved activity of photocatalysis, as supported by the fast photoreduction of Cytochrome c. This study represents a facile supramolecular way to fabricate radicals with maintained activity under mild conditions, which holds potential to enrich the scope of visible-light photoredox catalysis by the rational utilization of CT systems.

In Situ Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles without Aggregation in the Interlayer Space of Layered Titanate Transparent Films

Combinations of metal oxide semiconductors and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been investigated as new types of materials. The in situ synthesis of AuNPs within the interlayer space of semiconducting layered titania nanosheet (TNS) films was investigated here. Two types of intermediate films (i.e., TNS films containing methyl viologen (TNS/MV²⁺) and 2-ammoniumethanethiol (TNS/2-AET⁺)) were prepared. The two intermediate films were soaked in an aqueous tetrachloroauric(III) acid (HAuCl4) solution, whereby considerable amounts of Au(III) species were accommodated within the interlayer spaces of the TNS films. The two types of obtained films were then soaked in an aqueous sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH4) solution, whereupon the color of the films immediately changed from colorless to purple, suggesting the formation of AuNPs within the TNS interlayer. When only TNS/MV²⁺ was used as the intermediate film, the color of the film gradually changed from metallic purple to dusty purple within 30 min, suggesting that aggregation of AuNPs had occurred. In contrast, this color change was suppressed by using the TNS/2-AET⁺ intermediate film, and the AuNPs were stabilized for over 4 months, as evidenced by the characteristic extinction (absorption and scattering) band from the AuNPs.

Remarkable stimulation of emission quenching on a clay surface

Tetra-cationic pyrene derivative (Py(4+)) and tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(2+)) were hybridized onto the surface of a synthesized clay. We observed the remarkable stimulation of excited Py(4+) emission quenching on the clay surface, with a very large apparent quenching rate constant (kq = 7.4 ± 0.7 × 10(15) L mol(-1) s(-1)).

Structure resembling effect of clay surface on photochemical properties of meso-phenyl or pyridyl-substituted monocationic antimony(v) porphyrin derivatives

The more hydrophobic antimony(v) porphyrin showed greater absorption transition probability increase and fluorescence quantum yield enhancement on the clay surface. These unique effects were discussed using the potential energy curves of porphyrin.

Porphyrinic supramolecular daisy chains incorporating pillar[5]arene–viologen host–guest interactions

Daisy chains and organogels have been prepared by utilising noncovalent interactions between viologens and pillar[5]arenes together with stacked porphyrins.

Hybridization between periodic mesoporous organosilica and a Ru(II) polypyridyl complex with phosphonic acid anchor groups

A new method for the hybridization of a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex ([Ru(bpy)2((CH2PO3H2)2-bpy)](2+) (RuP2(2+): bpy =2,2'-bipyridine; (CH2PO3H2)2-bpy =2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'di(metylphosphonic acid)) with biphenylene-bearing periodic mesoporous organosilica (Bp-PMO made from 4,4'bis(triethoxysilyl)biphenyl [(C2H5O)3Si-(C6H4)2-Si(OC2H5)3]) was developed. Efficient and secure fixation of the ruthenium(II) complex with methylphosphonic acid groups (RuP2(2+)) in the mesopores of Bp-PMO occurred. This method introduced up to 660 μmol of RuP2(2+) in 1 g of Bp-PMO. Two modes of adsorption of RuP2(2+) in the mesopores of Bp-PMO were observed: one is caused by the chemical interaction between the methylphosphonic acid groups of RuP2(2+) and the silicate moieties of Bp-PMO and the other is attributed to aggregation of the RuP2(2+) complexes. In the case of the former mode, adsorbed RuP2(2+) (up to 80-100 μmol g(-1)) did not detach from Bp-PMO after washing with acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, or even water. Emission from the excited biphenylene (Bp) units was quantitatively quenched by the adsorbed RuP2(2+) molecules in cases where more than 60 μmol g(-1) of RuP2(2+) was adsorbed, and emission from RuP2(2+) was observed. Quantitative emission measurements indicated that emission from approximately 100 Bp units can be completely quenched by only one RuP2(2+) molecule in the mesopore, and photons absorbed by approximately 400 Bp units are potentially accumulated in one RuP2(2+) molecule.

Molecular packing, crystal to crystal transformation, electron transfer behaviour, and photochromic and fluorescent properties of three hydrogen-bonded supramolecular complexes containing benzenecarboxylate donors and viologen acceptors

Structures of three D–A supramolecular systems and their photoresponsive characteristics are investigated.

Photochemical properties of mono-, tri-, and penta-cationic antimony(V) metalloporphyrin derivatives on a clay layer surface

Three types of mono-, tri-, and penta-cationic antimony(V) porphyrin derivatives (Sb(V)Pors) were synthesized, and their photochemical properties on the anionic clay were systematically investigated. Sb(V)Por derivatives are dihydroxo(5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato)antimony(V) chloride ([Sb(V)(TPP)(OH)2](+)Cl(-)), dihydroxo[5,10-diphenyl-15,20-di(N-methyl-pyridinium-4-yl)porphyrinato]antimony(V) trichloride ([Sb(V)(DMPyP)(OH)2](3+)3Cl(-)), and dihydroxo[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-pyridinium-4-yl)porphyrinato]antimony(V) pentachloride ([Sb(V)(TMPyP)(OH)2](5+)5Cl(-)). The photochemical behaviors of three cationic Sb(V)Pors with and without clay were examined in aqueous solution. For all Sb(V)Por, aggregation behaviors were not observed in the clay complexes even at high density adsorption conditions. The transition probabilities and fluorescence quantum yields of Sb(V)Por showed a tendency to be increased by the complex formation with clay. The less cationic Sb(V)Por/clay complex showed the larger fluorescence quantum yield. The more cationic Sb(V)Por/clay complex showed the longer fluorescence lifetime. These effects of complex formation with clay on the photochemical properties of Sb(V)Pors were discussed using the molecular potential energy curves of the porphyrin ground state and excited state. It is concluded that two types of effects work in the Sb(V)Por/clay system: effect i (structure resembling effect) is that the most stable structure becomes relatively similar between the ground and excited states, mainly by hydrophobic interactions between the porphyrin molecule and the clay surface, and effect ii (structure fixing effect) is that sharpened potential energy curves of clay complexes can lead to the increase of activation energy for the internal conversion from excited state to a high vibration level of ground state, mainly by electrostatic interactions between cationic porphyrin and anionic clay. Like this, the unique effects of the clay surface on the photochemical behavior of dyes were observed and the mechanisms were rationally discussed.

Efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer in a novel host-guest assembly composed of an organic cavitand, aromatic molecules, and a clay nanosheet

A supramolecular host-guest assembly composed of a cationic organic cavitand (host), neutral aromatic molecules (guests), and an anionic clay nanosheet has been prepared and demonstrated that in this arrangement efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer could take place. The novelty of this system is the use of a cationic organic cavitand that enabled neutral organic molecules to be placed on an anionic saponite nanosheet. Efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer between neutral pyrene and 2-acetylanthracene enclosed within a cationic organic cavitand (octa amine) arranged on a saponite nanosheet was demonstrated through steady-state and time-resolved emission studies. The high efficiency was realized from the suppression of aggregation, segregation, and self-fluorescence quenching. We believe that the studies presented here using a novel supramolecular assembly have expanded the types of molecules that could serve as candidates for efficient energy-transfer systems, such as in an artificial light-harvesting system.

Regulation of the collisional self-quenching of fluorescence in clay/porphyrin complex by strong host-guest interaction

This paper proposes a novel methodology to improve noncollisional photochemical reactions such as Förster resonance energy transfer on solid surfaces. Since an excited guest molecule densely adsorbed on the solid surfaces is quenched by an unfavorable interaction between guests in general, the photochemical reactions such as electron and energy transfers tend to be inefficient compared to those in homogeneous systems. In this work, the mechanism of unfavorable quenching process of dyes on the clay surface as a typical solid surface for the photochemical energy transfer was systematically investigated by using a series of porphyrin derivatives. As a result, it was found that the quenching rate constants of excited guest dye determined by the time-resolved fluorescence measurements correlated well with the strengths of coulombic interaction between host and guest. The strong coulombic interaction should suppress the mobility and collision frequency of guests on the clay surface; thus, the collision of guest molecules was revealed as the origin of unfavorable quenching for photochemical reactions on the clay surface. According to this principle, we will be able to construct efficient photochemical reaction systems without any quenching process, such as efficient energy transfers toward an artificial light-harvesting system. In fact, we have already realized almost 100% energy transfer by the suppression of quenching process on the clay surface (e.g., J. Am. Chem. Soc.2011, 133, 14280-14286).

Regulation of the collisional self-quenching of fluorescence in clay/porphyrin complex by strong host-guest interaction

This paper proposes a novel methodology to improve noncollisional photochemical reactions such as Förster resonance energy transfer on solid surfaces. Since an excited guest molecule densely adsorbed on the solid surfaces is quenched by an unfavorable interaction between guests in general, the photochemical reactions such as electron and energy transfers tend to be inefficient compared to those in homogeneous systems. In this work, the mechanism of unfavorable quenching process of dyes on the clay surface as a typical solid surface for the photochemical energy transfer was systematically investigated by using a series of porphyrin derivatives. As a result, it was found that the quenching rate constants of excited guest dye determined by the time-resolved fluorescence measurements correlated well with the strengths of coulombic interaction between host and guest. The strong coulombic interaction should suppress the mobility and collision frequency of guests on the clay surface; thus, the collision of guest molecules was revealed as the origin of unfavorable quenching for photochemical reactions on the clay surface. According to this principle, we will be able to construct efficient photochemical reaction systems without any quenching process, such as efficient energy transfers toward an artificial light-harvesting system. In fact, we have already realized almost 100% energy transfer by the suppression of quenching process on the clay surface (e.g., J. Am. Chem. Soc.2011, 133, 14280-14286).

Photochemical reduction of CO₂ using TiO₂: effects of organic adsorbates on TiO₂ and deposition of Pd onto TiO₂

Reduction of CO(2) using semiconductors as photocatalysts has recently attracted a great deal of attention again. The effects of organic adsorbates on semiconductors on the photocatalytic products are noteworthy. On untreated TiO(2) (P-25) particles a considerable number of organic molecules such as acetic acid were adsorbed. Although irradiation of an aqueous suspension of this TiO(2) resulted in the formation of a significant amount of CH(4) as a major product, it was strongly suggested that its formation mainly proceeded via the photo-Kolbe reaction of acetic acid. Using TiO(2) treated by calcination and washing procedures for removal of the organic adsorbates, CO was photocatalytically generated as a major product, along with a very small amount of CH(4), from an aqueous suspension under a CO(2) atmosphere. In contrast, by using Pd (>0.5 wt %) deposited on TiO(2) (Pd-TiO(2)) on which organic adsorbates were not detected, CH(4) was the main product, but CO formation was drastically reduced compared with that on the pretreated TiO(2). Experimental data, including isotope labeling, indicated that CO(2) and CO(3)(2-) are the main carbon sources of the CH(4) formation, which proceeds on the Pd site of Pd-TiO(2). Prolonged irradiation caused deactivation of the photocatalysis of Pd-TiO(2) because of the partial oxidation of the deposited Pd to PdO.