Molecule-Based Artificial Photosynthesis

Guidelines for the design of molecules with a long lifetime of the charge-separated state and for the formation of a self-assembled monolayer were studied by preparing various model compounds linking donor and acceptor with chemical bonds. Based on the obtained results we designed and prepared the SAMs of C60-(porphyrin)-(ferrocene)-(CH2)11SH on a gold surface and observed a photocurrent with high efficiency (25% quantum yield). In addition, a well-defined, rigid-sheet-structured oligoporphyrin with 21 porphyrin chromophores was prepared as a model for antenna chlorophylls.