Methyl Viologen Radical Research Articles

Influence of Electron Donors on the Charge Transfer Dynamics of Carbon Nanodots in Photocatalytic Systems.

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) are nanosized light-harvesters emerging as next-generation photosensitizers in photocatalytic reactions. Despite their ever-increasing potential applications, the intricacies underlying their photoexcited charge carrier dynamics are yet to be elucidated. In this study, nitrogen-doped graphitic CNDs (NgCNDs) are selectively excited in the presence of methyl viologen (MV2+, redox mediator) and different electron donors (EDs), namely ascorbic acid (AA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The consequent formation of the methyl viologen radical cation (MV•+) is investigated, and the excited charge carrier dynamics of the photocatalytic system are understood on a 0.1 ps-1 ms time range, providing spectroscopic evidence of oxidative or reductive quenching mechanisms experienced by optically excited NgCNDs (NgCNDs*) depending on the ED implemented. In the presence of AA, NgCNDs* undergo oxidative quenching by MV2+ to form MV•+, which is short-lived due to dehydroascorbic acid, a product of photoinduced hole quenching of oxidized NgCNDs. The EDTA-mediated reductive quenching of NgCNDs* is observed to be at least 2 orders of magnitude slower due to screening by EDTA-MV2+ complexes, but the MV•+ population is stable due to the irreversibly oxidized EDTA preventing a back reaction. In general, our methodology provides a distinct solution with which to study charge transfer dynamics in photocatalytic systems on an extended time range spanning 10 orders of magnitude. This approach generates a mechanistic understanding to select and develop suitable EDs to promote photocatalytic reactions.

Tools to Simulate Resonance Raman Spectra for in-Situ Studies of Electron Transport Mediators and Bioelectrocatalysts

Raman spectroscopy is widely applied as an in-situ probe of electrochemical processes. When the excitation light is resonant with an electronic transition, the detected signal can be enhanced by more than 1,000-fold. Resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy has broad application in the study of common organic electron transport mediators (i.e., viologens, phenazines, photosynthetic pigments) and active sites of redox proteins (i.e., laccases, peroxidases, flavin-containing enzymes). To support investigations of bioelectrocatalytic membranes, we have been adapting RR spectroscopy to gain insights into the properties of immobilized redox mediators and biocatalyst active sites.1,2 Computational methods can be useful for guiding spectral interpretation. This poster reports on applications of recently advanced time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) codes that enable the simulation of RR spectra for small electron transport mediators (e.g., methyl viologen radical anion) and redox protein active site models (e.g., laccase T1 site mimics). The ORCA program suite3 was adapted. A series of Cu-centered compounds that model the T1 active site in laccases was studied along with the methyl viologen radical cation. The T1 site in laccases facilitates direct electron transport to an electrode and is a target for in-situ RR measurements. The reported work demonstrates careful selection of the functional (B3-LYP versus the long-range corrected hybrid exchange functional, ωB97X-D3) results in TDDFT-calculated electronic absorption and RR spectra that have features in excellent agreement with experiment. The results provide a foundation to build from in advancing models of small redox mediators and laccase catalytic active sites in support of sustainable technologies. Ozuguzel, U.; Aquino, A.J.A.; Nieman, R.; Minteer, S.D.; Korzeniewski, C. “Calculation of Resonance Raman Spectra and Excited State Properties for Blue Copper Protein Model Complexes” ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2022, 10, 14614. Xu, J.; Koh, M.; Minteer, S. D.; Korzeniewski, C. “In Situ Confocal Raman Microscopy of Redox Polymer Films on Bulk Electrode Supports” ACS Measurement Science Au 2023 (DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.2c00064). Neese, F.; Wennmohs, F.; Becker, U.; Riplinger, C. “ORCA Quantum Chemistry Program Package” J. Chem. Phys. 2020, 152, 224108.

Impact of Orientation of Thiol Groups in Dithiols on Formation of Methyl Viologen Radical Cation

Impact of Orientation of Thiol Groups in Dithiols on Formation of Methyl Viologen Radical Cation

Photocatalytic generation of a non-heme Fe(iii)-hydroperoxo species with O2 in water for the oxygen atom transfer reaction.

Coupling a photoredox module and a bio-inspired non-heme model to activate O2 for the oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reaction requires a vigorous investigation to shed light on the multiple competing electron transfer steps, charge accumulation and annihilation processes, and the activation of O2 at the catalytic unit. We found that the efficient oxidative quenching mechanism between a [Ru(bpy)3]2+ chromophore and a reversible electron mediator, methyl viologen (MV2+), to form the reducing species methyl viologen radical (MV˙+) can convey an electron to O2 to form the superoxide radical and reset an Fe(iii) species in a catalytic cycle to the Fe(ii) state in an aqueous solution. The formation of the Fe(iii)-hydroperoxo (FeIII-OOH) intermediate can evolve to a highly oxidized iron-oxo species to perform the OAT reaction to an alkene substrate. Such a strategy allows us to bypass the challenging task of charge accumulation at the molecular catalytic unit for the two-electron activation of O2. The FeIII-OOH catalytic precursor was trapped and characterized by EPR spectroscopy pertaining to a metal assisted catalysis. Importantly, we found that the substrate itself can act as an electron donor to reset the photooxidized chromophore in the initial state closing the photocatalytic loop and hence excluding the use of a sacrificial electron donor. Laser Flash Photolysis (LFP) studies and spectroscopic monitoring during photocatalysis lend credence to the proposed catalytic cycle.

Corrigendum: A Versatile In Situ Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroelectrochemical Approach for Electrocatalyst Research

The authors have identified some errors in their manuscript. On page 4583, the hyperfine couplings for the methyl viologen (MV) radical cation are stated as shown in bold: In situ electrolysis experiments were performed as described in §1. The employed electrodes were bare ITO, Ag/ITO, and the NiO/ITO. Potentials in the kinetic region of the corresponding CVs were applied. Figure 7 displays the spectra that were obtained for BQ and MV reductions. The EPR spectra were simulated using the EasySpin-5.1.11 module running in Matlab.[60] The following isotropic g and hyperfine values were used for the simulation of the spectra of the BQ radical anion: gBQ=2.0050 with AH=6.75 (4), while for the MV radical cation gMV=2.0024, AN=11.85 (2), AH=11.18 (6), AH=3.40 (4), AH=11.18 (4). These are in accordance with the literature values.[18,61] This should be changed to: In situ electrolysis experiments were performed as described in §1. The employed electrodes were bare ITO, Ag/ITO, and the NiO/ITO. Potentials in the kinetic region of the corresponding CVs were applied. Figure 7 displays the spectra that were obtained for BQ and MV reductions. The EPR spectra were simulated using the EasySpin-5.1.11 module running in Matlab.[60] The following isotropic g and hyperfine values were used for the simulation of the spectra of the BQ radical anion: gBQ=2.0050 with AH=6.75 (4), while for the MV radical cation gMV= 2.0024, AN=11.85 (2), AH=11.18 (6), AH=4.40 (4), AH=3.73 (4). These are in accordance with the literature values.[18,61] The authors confirm that these changes do not affect the results or conclusions and they apologize for the errors and for any inconvenience caused.

Inside Back Cover: Radically Enhanced Dual Recognition (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 48/2021)

Selective recognition of two stacked viologen radical cations in solution using a size-matched radical host is reported by J. Fraser Stoddart and co-workers in their Research Article on page 25454. By employing 2,6-bismethylenenaphthalene as the linker, the bisradical dicationic host is able to accommodate two methyl viologen radical cation guests with strong and cooperative binding.

Radically Enhanced Dual Recognition

AbstractComplexation between a viologen radical cation (V.+) and cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene) diradical dication (CBPQT2(.+)) has been investigated and utilized extensively in the construction of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) and artificial molecular machines (AMMs). The selective recognition of a pair of V.+ using radical‐pairing interactions, however, remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the efficient encapsulation of two methyl viologen radical cations (MV.+) in a size‐matched bisradical dicationic host — namely, cyclobis(paraquat‐2,6‐naphthalene)2(.+), i.e., CBPQN2(.+). Central to this dual recognition process was the choice of 2,6‐bismethylenenaphthalene linkers for incorporation into the bisradical dicationic host. They provide the space between the two bipyridinium radical cations in CBPQN2(.+) suitable for binding two MV.+ with relatively short (3.05–3.25 Å) radical‐pairing distances. The size‐matched bisradical dicationic host was found to exhibit highly selective and cooperative association with the two MV.+ in MeCN at room temperature. The formation of the tetrakisradical tetracationic inclusion complex — namely, [(MV)2⊂CBPQN]4(.+) – in MeCN was confirmed by VT 1H NMR, as well as by EPR spectroscopy. The solid‐state superstructure of [(MV)2⊂CBPQN]4(.+) reveals an uneven distribution of the binding distances (3.05, 3.24, 3.05 Å) between the three different V.+, suggesting that localization of the radical‐pairing interactions has a strong influence on the packing of the two MV.+ inside the bisradical dicationic host. Our findings constitute a rare example of binding two radical guests with high affinity and cooperativity using host‐guest radical‐pairing interactions. Moreover, they open up possibilities of harnessing the tetrakisradical tetracationic inclusion complex as a new, orthogonal and redox‐switchable recognition motif for the construction of MIMs and AMMs.

Radically Enhanced Dual Recognition.

Complexation between a viologen radical cation (V.+ ) and cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) diradical dication (CBPQT2(.+) ) has been investigated and utilized extensively in the construction of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) and artificial molecular machines (AMMs). The selective recognition of a pair of V.+ using radical-pairing interactions, however, remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the efficient encapsulation of two methyl viologen radical cations (MV.+ ) in a size-matched bisradical dicationic host - namely, cyclobis(paraquat-2,6-naphthalene)2(.+) , i.e., CBPQN2(.+) . Central to this dual recognition process was the choice of 2,6-bismethylenenaphthalene linkers for incorporation into the bisradical dicationic host. They provide the space between the two bipyridinium radical cations in CBPQN2(.+) suitable for binding two MV.+ with relatively short (3.05-3.25 Å) radical-pairing distances. The size-matched bisradical dicationic host was found to exhibit highly selective and cooperative association with the two MV.+ in MeCN at room temperature. The formation of the tetrakisradical tetracationic inclusion complex - namely, [(MV)2 ⊂CBPQN]4(.+) - in MeCN was confirmed by VT 1 H NMR, as well as by EPR spectroscopy. The solid-state superstructure of [(MV)2 ⊂CBPQN]4(.+) reveals an uneven distribution of the binding distances (3.05, 3.24, 3.05 Å) between the three different V.+ , suggesting that localization of the radical-pairing interactions has a strong influence on the packing of the two MV.+ inside the bisradical dicationic host. Our findings constitute a rare example of binding two radical guests with high affinity and cooperativity using host-guest radical-pairing interactions. Moreover, they open up possibilities of harnessing the tetrakisradical tetracationic inclusion complex as a new, orthogonal and redox-switchable recognition motif for the construction of MIMs and AMMs.

Self-Assembly and Photochemistry of a Pyrene-Methyl Viologen Supramolecular Fiber System.

This paper reports the self-assembly of a donor-acceptor system into nanoscopic structures and the photo processes taking place within these structures. The donor employed is pyrene linked to two β-cyclodextrin molecules (CD-PY-CD), and adamantane-linked methyl viologen attached to the three arms of mesitylene (Ms-(MV2+-AD)3) is the acceptor. CD-PY-CD and Ms-(MV2+-AD)3 when dissolved in water self-assembled into vesicles, which joined together to give long fibers. The self-assembly was studied using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Fluorescence of the pyrene chromophore was quenched within the self-assembled system due to efficient photoinduced electron transfer to methyl viologen. Photoinduced electron transfer within the assembly is confirmed through identification of product radical ions in flash photolysis experiments. Steady-state irradiation of the self-assembled system in an optical bench led to the formation of methyl viologen radical cation, which was stable for a few hours. Longevity of the radical cation was attributed to the fast reaction of pyrene radical cation with adjacent pyrene to give an unstable adduct, which slows down the back electron transfer process.

Discrete Open-Shell Tris(bipyridinium radical cationic) Inclusion Complexes in the Solid State.

The solid-state properties of organic radicals depend on radical-radical interactions that are influenced by the superstructure of the crystalline phase. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a substituted tetracationic cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-p-1,4-dimethoxyphenylene), which associates in its bisradical dicationic redox state with the methyl viologen radical cation (MV•+) to give a 1:1 inclusion complex. The (super)structures of the reduced cyclophane and this 1:1 complex in the solid state deviate from the analogous (super)structures observed for the reduced state of cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) and that of its trisradical tricationic complex. Titration experiments reveal that the methoxy substituents on the p-phenylene linkers do not influence binding of the cyclophane toward small neutral guests-such as dimethoxybenzene and tetrathiafulvalene-whereas binding of larger radical cationic guests such as MV•+ by the reduced cyclophane decreases 10-fold. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the solid-state superstructure of the 1:1 complex constitutes a discrete entity with weak intermolecular orbital overlap between neighboring complexes. Transient nutation EPR experiments and DFT calculations confirm that the complex has a doublet spin configuration in the ground state as a result of the strong orbital overlap, while the quartet-state spin configuration is higher in energy and inaccessible at ambient temperature. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements reveal that the trisradical tricationic complexes interact antiferromagnetically and form a one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain along the a-axis of the crystal. These results offer insights into the design and synthesis of organic magnetic materials based on host-guest complexes.

CdS-coated thin plastic films for visible-light photocatalysis

The preparation of a visible light-absorbing, very thin (2.5 μm), flexible CdS nanoparticle coated polystyrene (PS) film, CdS-PS, with a 3D-printed backing is described. Scanning electron microscopy confirms that the CdS-PS film comprise a thin layer of CdS nanoparticles (26 ± 4 nm) on just one side of the PS film, with no nanoparticles on the other side. When irradiated with 420 nm or 365 nm radiation, in air-saturated water, the CdS film is photobleached, and dissolved O2 consumed, due to the photoinduced oxidative corrosion of the CdS by O2. In contrast, under the same aerobic conditions, the CdS-PS film is very stable, when a sacrificial electron donor (SED) is present, such as EDTA or ascorbate/ascorbic acid, with the latter appearing the most effective. In the presence of an SED, the CdS-PS film photocatalyses the reduction of the dyes, methyl orange and crystal violet, and the electron-relay, methyl viologen, by different SEDs, using visible and UV light. In the photocatalysed reduction of methyl viologen by EDTA, colloidal Pt reacts with the highly coloured blue methyl viologen radicals generated to produce H2. Visible light irradiation of the CdS-PS/MV2+/EDTA/colloidal Pt system promotes the reduction of water to H2 by the SED, EDTA, mediated by methyl viologen. A colourless, TiO2-PS film, made using P25 TiO2, is used to effect the same photocatalytic reduction reactions as the CdS-PS film, but only when irradiated with UV (365 nm) radiation. In both cases the films are used repeatedly with no evidence of deterioration in activity or film stability. This is the first example of the preparation and testing of a visible light absorbing photocatalytic, i.e. CdS, thin plastic film, the preparation of which is very simple and inexpensive and may prove invaluable for the production of thin, flexible plastic photocatalytic films for solar research.

A Reversible Electron Relay to Exclude Sacrificial Electron Donors in the Photocatalytic Oxygen Atom Transfer Reaction with O2 in Water.

Using light energy and O2 for the direct chemical oxidation of organic substrates is a major challenge. A limitation is the use of sacrificial electron donors to activate O2 by reductive quenching of the photosensitizer, generating undesirable side products. A reversible electron acceptor, methyl viologen, can act as electron shuttle to oxidatively quench the photosensitizer, [Ru(bpy)3 ]2+ , generating the highly oxidized chromophore and the powerful reductant methyl-viologen radical MV+. . MV+. can then reduce an iron(III) catalyst to the iron(II) form and concomitantly O2 to O2.- in an aqueous medium to generate an active iron(III)-(hydro)peroxo species. The oxidized photosensitizer is reset to its ground state by oxidizing an alkene substrate to an alkenyl radical cation. Closing the loop, the reaction of the iron reactive intermediate with the substrate or its radical cation leads to the formation of two oxygenated compounds, the diol and the aldehyde following two different pathways.

Functionalized GaAs Photocathodes for Spin-Dependent Charge Transfer Studies

Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) is a well-documented phenomenon occurring at electrochemical interfaces, where chiral functional groups can hinder the transfer of electrons with a specific spin state, while allowing the electrons with an opposite spin state to be transferred to the electroactive species in the solution.1,2 Spin dependent electron transfer has also been observed at p-GaAs/electrolyte interface without chiral functionalities, relying on the spin selectivity between polarised electrons in the conduction band (CB) of the p-GaAs and spin-oriented radical species in the solution.3,4 Here we report spin-dependent charge transfer in electrochemistry, where the spin selectivity is achieved by manipulating the electron spins of a radical redox mediator in the sample solution using microwaves (MW) under resonance conditions. This work has required us to characterise the photocathodic behaviour of p-GaAs in contact with methyl viologen radical cation (MV+•) in organic solvents under very low light intensities, a domain not traditionally covered in semiconductor electrochemistry. We have also contrasted the behaviour of the bare p-GaAs to biphenyl- and peptide-functionalised surfaces, showing that the parasitic valence band (VB) and surface state (SS) mediated processes can be completely avoided. In the future, we hope that these functionalised surfaces allow us to increase the spin-dependent signal intensity, as the probability of electron’s spin state relaxing due to parasitic processes can be minimised. Figure 1

Efficient and Selective Electrochemically Driven Enzyme-Catalyzed Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formate using Formate Dehydrogenase and an Artificial Cofactor.

Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the growing need for energy necessitate a shift toward reliance on renewable energy sources and the utilization of carbon dioxide. Thus, producing carbonaceous fuel by the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide has been very appealing. We have focused on addressing the principal challenges of poor selectivity and poor energy efficiency in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. We have demonstrated here a viable pathway for the efficient and continuous electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate using the metal-independent enzyme type of formate dehydrogenase (FDH) derived from C andida boidinii yeast. This type of FDH is attractive because it is commercially produced. In natural metabolic processes, this type of metal-independent FDH oxidizes formate to carbon dioxide using NAD+ as a cofactor. We show that FDH can catalyze the reverse process to generate formate when the natural cofactor NADH is replaced with an artificial cofactor, the methyl viologen radical cation. The methyl viologen radical cation is generated in situ, electrochemically. Our approach relies on the special properties of methyl viologen as a "unidirectional" redox cofactor for the conversion of CO2 to formate. Methyl viologen (in the oxidized form) does not catalyze formate oxidation, while the methyl viologen radical cation is an effective cofactor for the reduction of carbon dioxide. Thus, although the thermodynamic driving force is favorable for the oxidized form of methyl viologen to oxidize formate to carbon dioxide, the kinetic factors are not favorable. Only the reverse reaction of carbon dioxide reduction to formate is kinetically viable with the cofactor, methyl viologen radical cation. Binding free energy calculated from atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations consolidate our understanding of these special binding properties of the methyl viologen radical cation and its ability to facilitate the two-electron reduction of carbon dioxide to formate in metal-independent FDH. By carrying out the reactions in a novel three-compartment cell, we have demonstrated the continuous production of formate at high energy efficiency and yield. This cell configuration uses judiciously selected ion-exchange membranes to separate the reaction compartments to preserve the yields of the methyl viologen radical cation and formate. By the electroregeneration of the methyl viologen radical cation at -0.44 V versus the normal hydrogen electrode, we could produce formate at 20 mV negative to the reversible electrode potential for carbon dioxide reduction to formate. Our results are in sharp contrast to the large overpotentials of -800 to -1000 mV required on metal catalysts, vindicating the selectivity and kinetic facility provided by FDH. Formate yields as high as 97% ± 1% could be realized by avoiding the adventitious reoxidation of the methyl viologen radical cation by molecular oxygen. We anticipate that the insights from the electrochemical studies and the MD simulations to be useful in redesigning the metal-independent FDH and alternate artificial cofactors to achieve even higher rates of conversion.

Charge transfer dynamics between MPA capped CdTe quantum dots and methyl viologen

Abstract The understanding of charge carrier dynamics in hybrid materials based on colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (or quantum dots) and organic moieties is fundamental for the design of efficient photonic and photovoltaic devices. In the present work, we investigate the interactions occurring between CdTe quantum dots, capped with a strong capping agent such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid, and a well known electron acceptor such as methylviologen molecule. The nature of the interactions and of exciton dynamics is investigated by stationary and time-resolved spectroscopies. Luminescence data recorded in presence of increasing methylviologen concentrations, indicate that the organic molecule is able to statically interact with the surface sites of CdTe quantum dots; a biphasic interaction behavior is evidenced by determining the apparent association constants. These latter are obtained through the analysis of luminescence data, and values in the range 103–104 are determined. The nature of the interactions is characterized by nanosecond and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopies, to clarify the dynamics and the conditions able to foster charge mobility. Nanosecond flash photolysis measurements, carried out upon quantum dots excitation, shows the absorption of methylviologen radical cation specie at 605 nm, suggesting the occurrence of electron transfer from CdTe nanocrystals to the organic acceptor; the relatively long decay time of the transient signal (10.3 μs) indicates that back electron transfer processes are negligible. Ultrafast transient absorption measurements confirm the occurrence of an ultrafast electron transfer process; spectral and kinetic analysis of the transient data show that methylviologen radical cation is formed almost instantaneously on the ps-time scale but mainly when the samples are pumped in the energy continuum at 400 nm. This finding suggests that electron mobility from the nanocrystals to the organic units is achieved mainly when the excitonic states possess an excess of energy. The comparison of the kinetic behaviour of the signals at increasing methylviologen concentrations indicates that the electron transfer process competes with the radiative exciton recombination. In addition, the kinetic data suggests that surface trapping and Auger recombination processes might slow down the charge mobility.

Interrogation of a PS1-Based Photocathode by Means of Scanning Photoelectrochemical Microscopy.

In the development of photosystem-based energy conversion devices, the in-depth understanding of electron transfer processes involved in photocurrent generation and possible charge recombination is essential as a basis for the development of photo-bioelectrochemical architectures with increased efficiency. The evaluation of a bio-photocathode based on photosystem 1 (PS1) integrated within a redox hydrogel by means of scanning photoelectrochemical microscopy (SPECM) is reported. The redox polymer acts as a conducting matrix for the transfer of electrons from the electrode surface to the photo-oxidized P700 centers within PS1, while methyl viologen is used as charge carrier for the collection of electrons at the reduced FB site of PS1. The analysis of the modified surfaces by SPECM enables the evaluation of electron-transfer processes by simultaneously monitoring photocurrent generation at the bio-photoelectrode and the associated generation of reduced charge carriers. The possibility to visualize charge recombination processes is illustrated by using two different electrode materials, namely Au and p-doped Si, exhibiting substantially different electron transfer kinetics for the reoxidation of the methyl viologen radical cation used as freely diffusing charge carrier. In the case of p-doped Si, a slower recombination kinetics allows visualization of methyl viologen radical cation concentration profiles from SPECM approach curves.

Photophysical and photochemical properties of manganese complexes with cationic porphyrin ligands: Effects of alkyl substituents and micellar environment

Abstract Although Mn(III) porphyrins were considered earlier to be very weakly emissive, the fluorescence displayed by Mn(III) complexes with the cationic TMPyP 2+ ligand (H 2 TMPyP 4+ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin) as well as with its other alkyl (such as hexyl and dodecyl) derivatives proved to be strong enough for a comparative study. Elongation of the alkyl substituent increased both the quantum yield and the lifetime of the emission for the Mn(III) porphyrins, while resulted in an opposite effect for the corresponding free bases in homogeneous solutions. The presence of cationic micelles, however, reversed this tendency regarding the emission lifetime of the complexes. These cationic metalloporphyrins were applied in a photocatalytic system involving triethanolamine (TEOA) as a sacrificial electron donor and methylviologen (MV 2+ ) as an acceptor. In the first step of the catalytic process outer-sphere photoinduced reduction of the metal center took place via quenching of the triplet excited state of these metalloporphyrins by TEOA. The corresponding manganese(II) porphyrins formed in this way were also photoactive; they forwarded an electron to MV 2+ upon irradiation, regenerating the starting complex. Elongation of the alkyl substituents increased the quantum yield of the formation of methylviologen radical (MV ●+ ) in this system, but considerably decreased the durability of the photocatalyst. Anionic micelles totally hindered the photoinduced generation of Mn(II) porphyrins, while cationic micellar environment appreciably increased the efficiency of the accumulation of MV ●+ .

Modulation of Cu(2-x)S Nanocrystal Plasmon Resonance through Reversible Photoinduced Electron Transfer.

Copper sulfide (Cu(2-x)S) nanocrystals with nonstoichiometric composition exhibit plasmon resonance in the near-infrared region. Compositional changes and varying electron density markedly affect the position and intensity of the plasmon resonance. We report a photochemically induced phenomenon of modulating the plasmon resonance in a controlled fashion. As photogenerated reduced methyl viologen radicals transfer electrons to Cu(2-x)S in inert solutions, we observe a decrease in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorbance at 1160 nm. Upon exposure to air, the plasmon resonance band recovers as stored electrons are scavenged away by oxygen. This cycle of electron charge and discharge of Cu(2-x)S nanocrystals is reversible and can be repeated through photoirradiation in N2 saturated solution followed by exposure of the suspension to air. The spectroscopic studies that provide mechanistic insights into the reversible charging and discharging of plasmonic Cu(2-x)S are discussed.

Enhanced Surface Electron Transfer with the Aid of Methyl Viologen on the Co3O4-g-C3N4 Photocatalyst

Due to the unique character of methyl viologen (MV 2+ ), namely, the electron oscillation that may occur in the process of MV 2+ reduction and oxidation, by means of MV 2+ addition, reacting system inert-atmosphere and electron donor addition, based on the peculiar contribution of MV 2+ with an electron oscillation characters, the stabilities and hydrogen evolution of the Co 3 O 4 -g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst were greatly improved. Charge separation and electron transfer were more efficient under the condition of MV 2+ addition, as supported by fluorescence studies. The photoreduction of MV 2+ by Eosin Y (EY 2− ) can form a persistent methyl viologen radical cation (MV •+ ). MV 2+ , as an excellent electron relay, greatly facilitated electron transfer from the excited state 3 (EY 2− )* to the conduction band of Co 3 O 4 -g-C 3 N 4 . Accordingly, the excited state 3 (EY 2− )* was oxidized by MV 2+ ; this process effectively promoted the circulation regeneration of EY 2− , suppressed the generation of unstable intermediate EY •3− , and reduced the decomposition of EY.

Generation of long-lived methylviologen radical cation in the triplet-state mediated electron transfer in a β-cyclodextrin based supramolecular triad

A novel tris(bipyridyl)ruthenium–pyrene–methylviologen supramolecular triad was assembled through inclusion complexation of adamantane-linked Ru(II)–Py dyad in MV2+-linked β-cyclodextrin. Excitation of the Ru(II) chromophore populated its 3MLCT which upon energy transfer gave 3Py, which donates an electron to MV2+ to give Ru(II)–Py+–MV+. A second electron transfer then occurs from Ru(II) to Py+ to give the supramolecular Ru(III)–Py–MV+ charge separated state. Laser flash photolysis experiments confirmed formation of MV+ which exhibited 100μs lifetime. Steady state irradiation of the self-assembled system in the presence of sacrificial donor also led to formation of long-lived MV+.