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Photosensitized electron transport across lipid vesicle walls

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6566288

The prospect of using lipid bilayer vesicles in artificial photosynthetic devices which decompose water photochemically as a means of converting and storing solar energy is addressed. The vesicles serve to mediate charge separation during photosensitized electron transfer reactions. The vesicle systems of particular interest have amphiphilic dyes dissolved in the walls of the vesicles and aqueous solutions of electron-donating and accepting molecules separated by the walls. Photosensitized electron transfer across the bilayer from the donor to the acceptor results in spatially separated redox products, thereby preventing energy-wasting back-reactions between these intermediates in the decomposition of water. The overall strategy and some physicochemical properties of vesicles are outlined. Some electronic spectral and photochemical properties of synthetic amphiphilic dyes are characterized, with emphasis on micellar aqueous media. The evolution of a model system for studying photosensitized electron transport across vesicle walls is described.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6566288
Report Number(s):
LBL-15171; ON: DE83007046
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English