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Cover Picture: Photochemical Bleaching of an Elaborate Artificial Light‐Harvesting Antenna (ChemPhysChem 9/2015)
Author(s) -
Alamiry Mohammed A. H.,
Harriman Anthony,
Haefele Alexandre,
Ziessel Raymond
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201590046
Subject(s) - chromophore , photochemistry , funnel , fluorescence , cover (algebra) , materials science , chemistry , optics , physics , organic chemistry , mechanical engineering , engineering
Artificial photon concentrators are intended to capture sunlight across the entire visible range and fluoresce strongly in the near‐IR region. Such antennae could be used to sensitize a wide range of photochemical reactions, but their inherent stability under continuous illumination must be addressed. On p. 1867, A. Harriman, R. Ziessel et al. explore the photochemical bleaching of a large molecular array formed by the accretion of 21 chromophores to form a photonic funnel. The terminal chromophore slowly bleaches when exposed to white light, but forms new chromophores that continue to operate as sensitisers. This process is continued down the chain until most of the array is lost. The net result is an extremely robust light harvester that resembles the natural apparatus.