Hollow-fiber membranes for photosensitized electron transport

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6601907· OSTI ID:6601907

Wamser, C. C.; Otvos, J. W.; Calvin, M.

Commercially available cellulose acetate hollow fiber membranes have been investigated for possible use in artificial photosynthesis solar energy schemes. The function of the membrane is to contain the photosensitizer and to separate the oxidized and reduced species which result from photosensitized electron transfer reactions on each side of the membrane wall. Membranes were successfully modified by a process of soaking in a THF solution saturated with porphyrin, followed by a water rinse. This procedure gives dark purple fibers which contain up to 30 mM zinc tetraphenylporphyrin in the fiber walls. A plumbing system has been developed to allow flow of a solution through the inner channels of a 24-fiber bundle while it is immersed in a separate outer solution. Preliminary studies indicate that the fibers are somewhat permeable to both EDTA and dimethyl viologen, the electron donor and acceptor molecules, respectively. Preliminary photochemical studies on cut-up pieces of the treated fiber indicate that it does photosensitize a reaction between EDTA and dimethyl viologen in aqueous solution.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6601907
• Report Number(s): LBL-12359
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
MEMBRANES
ELECTRON TRANSFER
FABRICATION
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
BIOMIMETIC PROCESSES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
EDTA
FIBERS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
PERMEABILITY
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PORPHYRINS
SENSITIZERS
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DISPERSIONS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
POLYSACCHARIDES
REAGENTS
SACCHARIDES
SOLUTIONS
SYNTHESIS
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)