Open AccessDriving Organic Nanocrystals Dissolution Through Electrochemistry
Author(s) -
Bussetti Gianlorenzo,
Filoni Claudia,
Li Bassi Andrea,
Bossi Alberto,
Campione Marcello,
Orbelli Biroli Alessio,
Castiglioni Chiara,
Trabattoni Silvia,
De Rosa Stefania,
Tortora Luca,
Ciccacci Franco,
Duò Lamberto
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistryopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2191-1363
DOI - 10.1002/open.202100076
Subject(s) - porphyrin , dissolution , nanocrystal , electrochemistry , protonation , molecule , nanotechnology , chemistry , metal , free base , materials science , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , photochemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , ion , salt (chemistry) , engineering
We have recently discussed how organic nanocrystal dissolution appears in different morphologies and the role of the solution pH in the crystal detriment process. We also highlighted the role of the local molecular chemistry in porphyrin nanocrystals having comparable structures: in water‐based acid solutions, protonation of free‐base porphyrin molecules is the driving force for crystal dissolution, whereas metal (Zn II ) porphyrin nanocrystals remain unperturbed. However, all porphyrin types, having an electron rich π‐structure, can be electrochemically oxidized. In this scenario, a key question is: does electrochemistry represent a viable strategy to drive the dissolution of both free‐base and metal porphyrin nanocrystals? In this work, by exploiting electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC‐AFM), we monitor in situ and in real time the dissolution of both free‐base and metal porphyrin nanocrystals, as soon as molecules reach the oxidation potential, showing different regimes according to the applied EC potential.