A novel polyelectrolyte-based artificial light-harvesting system for photocatalysis of cross-dehydrogenation coupling

Artificial light-harvesting systems usually utilize a variety of noncovalent interactions and so their assembly processes are more complex. Building an artificial light-harvesting system with polyelectrolyte materials via only electrostatic interactions is a more easy and effective method. In this work, we designed and synthesized a tetraphenylene derivative (4PyTPE) which self-assembled into positively charged nanoparticles in aqueous solution (pH = 2). An anionic polyelectrolyte material poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (RSS) was utilized to construct an artificial light-harvesting system with 4PyTPE and rhodamine B (RhB) via electrostatic interactions between anions and cations. When the molar ratio of 4PyTPE-RSS/RhB was 100 : 3, the energy transfer efficiency (phi(ET)) and antenna effect (AE) were calculated to be 56.8% and 4.09, respectively. Moreover, for the first time, an artificial light-harvesting system constructed from a polyelectrolyte material was applied for the photocatalysis of cross-coupling dehydrogenation (CDC) reactions in aqueous solution with high yields of up to 90%. This work advances the promising application of artificial light-harvesting systems based on polyelectrolyte materials for photocatalysis.

Automated summary

Artificial light-harvesting systems usually involve complex assembly processes using various noncovalent interactions. This study demonstrates a simpler and more effective approach of building an artificial light-harvesting system using only electrostatic interactions with polyelectrolyte materials. The system achieved high energy transfer efficiency and antenna effect, and it was successfully applied for photocatalysis with high yields. This work advances the promising application of artificial light-harvesting systems based on polyelectrolyte materials.