Self-aggregates of natural chlorophylls and their synthetic analogues in aqueous media for making light-harvesting systems

Chlorophyll molecules are well organized for efficient energy or electron transfer in a light-harvesting antenna or a reaction center of photosynthetic organisms. In order to make effective photosynthetic mimics, self-aggregates of natural chlorophylls and their synthetic analogues have been prepared with the specific intermolecular interactions. Many studies have been carried out to prepare aqueous chlorophyll aggregates by use of surfactants or chemical modifications of the natural pigments, because chlorophylls basically are poorly soluble in water. This review article focuses on the preparation and function of aqueous chlorophyll aggregates used in making artificial photosynthetic systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.