Publications

Photoinduced Electron Transfer Across Phospholipid Bilayers in Anaerobic and Aerobic Atmospheres

Author(s)
Novitasari Sinambela, Richard Jacobi, Dieter Sorsche, Leticia González, Andrea Pannwitz
Abstract

In natural photosynthesis, light-driven electron transfer across the thylakoid membrane enables efficient charge separation and the confinement of reaction spaces for generating NADPH and CO2 and oxidation of water. These reactions are complementary redox reactions and require different reaction conditions for optimal performance. However, current artificial photosynthesis studies only take place in the bulk and are sensitive toward oxygen and air, which limits their applicability under aerated and water-splitting conditions. Herein, we report light-driven electron transfer across a lipid bilayer membrane of liposome vesicles via a rigid oligoaromatic molecular wire that allows to electronically connect an oxidation and reduction reaction which are spatially separated by the membrane. The molecular wire has a simple, symmetric, easy-to-synthesize design based on benzothiadiazole and fluorene units and absorbs in the visible spectrum which makes it suitable for solar energy conversion. The model reactions in this study are light-driven NADH oxidation on one side of the membrane and light-driven reduction of an organic water-soluble dye in the bulk phase of liposomes. Additionally, the system is active in both aerobic and anaerobic atmospheres, rendering it ideal for aerobic conditions or reactions that produce oxygen such as solar-driven water splitting and artificial photosynthesis applications.

Organisation(s)
Department of Theoretical Chemistry, Research Platform Accelerating Photoreaction Discovery
External organisation(s)
Universität Ulm, Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Journal
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Volume
64
Pages
e202423393
ISSN
1433-7851
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202423393
Publication date
03-2025
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104017 Physical chemistry, 103006 Chemical physics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Chemistry, Catalysis
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/c3b4c348-4bb0-43ab-8717-dde73d68cf9f