Molecular Design for Electron-Driven Double-Proton Transfer: A New Scenario for Excited-State Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer.
J Phys Chem A
; 122(47): 9191-9198, 2018 Nov 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30408417
ABSTRACT
Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions play important roles in solar energy conversion processes. Designing efficient artificial photosystems with PCET mechanisms is a promising solution for the growing demands of energy resources. Compared to ground states, inducing the PCET reactions directly from electronically excited states, named excited-state PCET (ES-PCET) reactions, is a more direct and efficient avenue to the formation of solar fuels. Here, based on benzimidazole phenolic derivatives, we have designed and studied some molecular structures that can undergo the electron-driven double-proton transfer (EDDPT) reactions within the ES-PCET framework. According to our DFT/TDDFT calculation results, the two protons transfer in a stepwise manner in the EDDPT process, and compared to the common way of electron-driven single-proton transfer (EDSPT) reactions, the proton transfer in the EDDPT process not only has a smaller energy barrier but also experiences a longer transferring distance, which has beneficial effects on producing solar fuels. The study of ES-PCET reactions under the mechanism of EDDPT may cast light on the regulation of proton transfer at defined distances and time scales, which is important in energy conversion processes.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Phys Chem A
Journal subject:
QUIMICA
Year:
2018
Type:
Article