Long-time charge separation in porphyrin/KTa(Zr)O3 as water splitting photocatalyst

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2011 Oct 28;13(40):18031-7. doi: 10.1039/c1cp22425e. Epub 2011 Sep 15.

Abstract

Artificial photosynthesis is one of the chemists' dreams and the separation of charges with long lives is fundamental for achieving artificial photosynthesis. In actual photosynthesis, Z-scheme excitation separates electronic charge with high efficiency using solar light. Here we report that photo-excitation in Cr-tetraphenylporphyrin chroride (Cr-TPPCl)/Zr doped KTaO(3) (KTa(Zr)O(3)) is analogous to the Z-scheme in photosynthesis, and that we achieve complete charge separation at room temperature. Photovoltaic decay and transient fluorescence spectra measurements showed that the photo-excited charge in KTa(Zr)O(3) transferred to the HOMO of Cr-TPPCl within a few hundred pico-seconds on charge transfer. In contrast, the reduced state of the Cr-TPPCl species that was formed by the electronic injection from KTa(Zr)O(3) was observed for more than 0.5 s at room temperature in the transient decay of the absorption spectra change after the initial excitation of KTa(Zr)O(3). The formed reduced state of Cr-TPPCl was highly stable and was detected by static ESR measurements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Chromium / chemistry
  • Electron Transport
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Photosynthesis*
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*
  • Potassium / chemistry*
  • Tantalum / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Zirconium / chemistry

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Porphyrins
  • tetraphenylporphyrin
  • Water
  • Chromium
  • Tantalum
  • Zirconium
  • Potassium