A firefly-like chemiluminescence reaction was utilized in a ZrO2 nanoparticle matrix of water splitting cells, where the chlorophyll of Lantana camara was used as the major photosensitizer to excite electrons to the conduction band of ZrO2. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was induced by rubrene, a firefly-like chemiluminescence molecule, and Lantana camara chlorophyll combined with 9,10-diphenylanthracene. The ZrO2 nanoparticle film coated by the chlorophyll of Lantana camara and 9,10-diphenylanthracene under chemiluminescence irradiation in 1 M KHCO3 water solution demonstrated the highest photocurrent density (88.1 A/m2) and the highest water splitting efficiency (12.77%).
Keywords: FRET; ZrO2; chlorophyll; firefly; water splitting.