Site-Selective Real-Time Observation of Bimolecular Electron Transfer in a Photocatalytic System Using L-Edge X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy*

Abstract

Time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been utilized to monitor the bimolecular electron transfer in a photocatalytic water splitting system. This has been possible by uniting the local probe and element specific character of X-ray transitions with insights from high-level ab initio calculations. The specific target has been a heteroleptic [Ir^III (ppy)₂ (bpy)]⁺ photosensitizer, in combination with triethylamine as a sacrificial reductant and ${\mathrm{Fe}}_3{\left(\mathrm{CO}\right)}_{12}$ as a water reduction catalyst. The relevant molecular transitions have been characterized via high-resolution Ir L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy on the picosecond time scale and restricted active space self-consistent field calculations. The presented methods and results will enhance our understanding of functionally relevant bimolecular electron transfer reactions and thus will pave the road to rational optimization of photocatalytic performance.

Keywords: electron transfer; fluorescence detection XAS; high energy-resolution; homogeneous catalysis; photocatalytic water splitting; restricted active space self-consistent field calculations; ultrafast XAS; x-ray absorption spectroscopy.