Copper(I) Donor-Chromophore-Acceptor Assembly for Light-Driven Oxidation on a Zinc Oxide Nanowire Electrode

Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells have emerged as a potential candidate for solar-to-fuels conversion. Herein, we report a Cu(I)-based donor-chromophore-acceptor triad comprising a triphenylamine electron donor and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine electron acceptor as the active material for photoanodes. Energy levels of this triad are carefully aligned for thermodynamically favorable photoinduced electron transfer. Once this triad is surface grafted onto zinc oxide nanowires, photoelectrochemical studies confirm the utility of this architecture for oxidative processes such as alcohol oxidation with modest yields.