Abstract
Lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) containing incorporated chlorophyll molecules are being extensively studied as potential biomimetic solar energy conversion systems based upon green plant photosynthesis. The present paper reviews some of the properties of such pigmented vesicles. Considerable information is now available concerning the structure and excited state dynamics of these systems. Electron-transfer reactions involving the chlorophyll triplet state and donor and acceptor species have been investigated by both steady-state and transient techniques, and understanding of detailed mechanisms is beginning to emerge. Under appropriate conditions it has been possible to achieve high degrees of conversion of excited states into energy-rich products (∼60 per cent), and energy-wasting recombinations have been considerably retarded. Most recently, mechanistic studies of vectorial electron transfer across a lipid bilayer from donor to acceptor via the chlorophyll triplet state have begun, which promise to provide a new level of insight into the factors which control energy storage efficiency in these systems.
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