A novel platform to study the photoinduced electron transfer at a dye-sensitized solid/liquid interface

Photoinduced electron transfer with the electron donor–acceptor linked system of zinc-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) as donor and benzoquinone (BQ) as acceptor was designed to mimic the electron transfer process in photosynthetic reaction center. Within the framework of the bimolecular electron transfer mechanisms of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), the fundamental features of photoinduced electron transfer were demonstrated by recording the feedback approach curves under different light wavelength, intensity, and concentration of BQ. Meanwhile, relevant theoretical study was employed to support our proposal. It demonstrated that SECM as a new platform could also provide crucial information for simple simulation of the electron transfer process in photosynthetic reaction center.

Graphical abstractPhotoinduced electron transfer with the electron donor–acceptor linked systems of porphyrin as donor and benzoquinone as acceptor was designed to simply mimic the electron transfer process in photosynthetic reaction center.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Photoinduced donor–acceptor electron transfer was studied by SECM. ► SECM mode was applied for simple simulation about natural electron transfer process. ► A photoelectrochemical sensing could be constructed based on the research.