Premium
Heterosupramolecular Chemistry: An Approach to Modulating Function in Molecular Devices
Author(s) -
Marguerettaz Xavier,
Redmond Gareth,
Nagaraja Rao S.,
Fitzmaurice Donald
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.19960020411
Subject(s) - viologen , electron transfer , anthraquinone , semiconductor , chemistry , excitation , band gap , electrochemistry , photochemistry , molecule , optoelectronics , substrate (aquarium) , electrode , nanotechnology , materials science , chemical physics , physics , organic chemistry , oceanography , quantum mechanics , geology
Linked viologen‐anthraquinone molecules are attached to TiO 2 nanocrystallites supported on a conducting glass substrate. The resulting assembly is incorporated as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell. Under opencircuit conditions, band‐gap excitation of the semiconductor nanocrystallite results in viologen‐mediated electron transfer to anthraquinone. Prior application of a negative potential step, which results in 2e − /2H + reduction of anthraquinone, permits electron transfer only to viologen. At positive applied potentials, electron transfer following band‐gap excitation is largely suppressed. Some implications of these findings for modulation of function in molecular devices are considered.