Recent Advances in Photo-Initiated Electron Transfer at the Interface of Anatase TiO2 Nanocrystallites and Transition-Metal Polypyridyl Compounds
Abstract
Molecular control of solar light harvesting and interfacial charge transfer at mesoporous, nanocrystalline semiconductor thin films are described. Light absorption by transition-metal coordination compounds anchored to wide band-gap semiconductors can initiate electron-transfer processes that ultimately reduce the semiconductor and oxidize the coordination compound. Such photo-induced charge separation is a key step for solar energy conversion. Three different interfacial charge-separation mechanisms are discussed in addition to regeneration processes wherein a mobile donor donates an electron to the oxidized coordination compound. Inorganic chemistry plays a central role in this approach to solar energy conversion, which may ultimately be optimized for practical applications.
Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.