Artificial photosynthesis dendrimers integrating light-harvesting, electron delivery and hydrogen production

A series of artificial photosynthesis complexes, Gn-Ir-Hy (n = 1-4), were constructed by attaching iridium complexes and [Fe-Fe]-hydrogenase mimic to the periphery and core, respectively, of poly(aryl ether) dendrimers of different generations. The iridium complexes act as the light-harvesting antennae and the hydrogenase mimic core is the catalytic center. Light-harvesting, photoinduced electron-transfer, and hydrogen photochemical production were hierarchically realized within the dendritic photosynthesis mimics using triethylamine as the sacrificial electron donor. The catalytic activity is enhanced as the generation of dendritic catalysts increases, and the turnover number for generation 4 is nearly 4 times more than that of generation 1. The peripheral antennae not only harvest photons but also act as electronic energy reservoirs for the photochemical production, which facilitates the catalytic process together with the increased light-harvesting and protection effects of dendritic frameworks. Therefore, efficient artificial photosynthesis systems with complete light-harvesting and catalytic functions can be advanced with such rational design.