A luminescence and electrochemical study of photoinduced electron transfer within the layers of zirconium phosphate

Electron donors based on Ru(bpy)(3) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) are covalently attached to the walls of gamma-ZrP and acceptor species based on viologen are arranged side by side following quite simple experimental protocols. The resulting materials are characterized by using the usual techniques and their luminescence and electrochemical properties are assessed. Strong evidence is presented of the efficient occurrence of photoinduced electron transfer in the solid state among the active species attached to the transparent inorganic matrix. The prepared materials may find applications in the clean conversion of light into useful energy.