Interfacial‐Potential‐Gradient Induced a Significant Enhancement of Photoelectric Conversion: Thiophene Polyelectrolyte (PTE‐BS) and Bipyridine Ruthenium (N3) Cooperative Regulated Biomimetic Nanochannels

Inspired by photosynthesis, the ion transport‐based artificial light harvesting system shows unprecedented superiority in photoelectric conversion. However, how to high‐efficiently utilize solar energy, just like photosystem I and photosystem II working together in the thylakoid membrane, remains a great challenge. Here, a facile strategy for patterning two photosensitive molecules is demonstrated, that is, thiophene polyelectrolyte (PTE‐BS) and bipyridine ruthenium (N3), onto the two segments of symmetric/asymmetric hourglass‐shaped alumina nanochannels. Owing to the different energy levels, an interfacial‐potential‐gradient is established in the tip junction of the nanochannels, wherein photoinduced excited electrons transfer from PTE‐BS to N3, resulting in the efficient separation of electron–holes. Simultaneously, the increasing surface‐charge‐density enhances transmembrane ion transport performance. Thus, the photo‐induced ionic current change ratio increases up to 100% to realize a significant photoelectric conversion, which is superior to all of the N3 or PTE‐BS individually modified nanochannel systems. By changing the channel geometry from symmetric to asymmetric, the biomimetic nanochannels also exhibit a diode‐like ion transport behavior. This work may provide guidance for the development of high‐performance photoelectric conversion nanochannel systems.

[1]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Photoassisted salt-concentration-biased electricity generation using cation-selective porphyrin-based nanochannels membrane , 2020 .

[2]  Christopher J. Chang,et al.  Bioinspiration in light harvesting and catalysis , 2020, Nature Reviews Materials.

[3]  E. Abou‐hamad,et al.  Smart covalent organic networks (CONs) with “on-off-on” light-switchable pores for molecular separation , 2020, Science Advances.

[4]  Fengting Lv,et al.  Artificial regulation of state transition for augmenting plant photosynthesis using synthetic light-harvesting polymer materials , 2020, Science Advances.

[5]  Dazhen Huang,et al.  Photothermoelectric Response of Ti3C2Tx MXene Confined Ion Channels , 2020, ACS nano.

[6]  Yan Yue,et al.  Semiconductive Porphyrin-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Sensitive Near-Infrared Detection. , 2020, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[7]  M. Toimil-Molares,et al.  Shape matters: Enhanced osmotic energy harvesting in bullet-shaped nanochannels , 2020, Nano Energy.

[8]  Huanting Wang,et al.  Efficient Gating of Ion Transport in Three-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Sub-Nanochannels with Confined Light-Responsive Azobenzene Molecules. , 2020, Angewandte Chemie.

[9]  J. Zhai,et al.  A high rectification ratio nanofluidic diode induced by an “ion pool” , 2020, RSC advances.

[10]  P. Gai,et al.  Solar-Powered Organic Semiconductor-Bacteria Biohybrids for CO2 Reduction into Acetic Acid. , 2020, Angewandte Chemie.

[11]  X. Xia,et al.  Fabrication of Bio‐Inspired 2D MOFs/PAA Hybrid Membrane for Asymmetric Ion Transport , 2019, Advanced Functional Materials.

[12]  Liying Yang,et al.  Reducing Defects in Perovskite Solar Cells with White Light Illumination-Assisted Synthesis , 2019, ACS Energy Letters.

[13]  L. Yeh,et al.  Unraveling the Anomalous Surface-Charge-Dependent Osmotic Power Using a Single Funnel-Shaped Nanochannel. , 2019, ACS nano.

[14]  Huanting Wang,et al.  Voltage-Gated Ion Transport in Two-Dimensional Sub-1-Nanometer Nanofluidic Channels. , 2019, ACS nano.

[15]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Photo‐Driven Ion Transport for a Photodetector Based on an Asymmetric Carbon Nitride Nanotube Membrane , 2019, Angewandte Chemie.

[16]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Ion/Molecule Transportation in Nanopores and Nanochannels: From Critical Principles to Diverse Functions. , 2019, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[17]  T. Ueda,et al.  Artificial photosynthetic cell producing energy for protein synthesis , 2019, Nature Communications.

[18]  Qi Wen,et al.  Photo-induced ultrafast active ion transport through graphene oxide membranes , 2019, Nature Communications.

[19]  P. Stroeve,et al.  Dynamic Curvature Nanochannel‐Based Membrane with Anomalous Ionic Transport Behaviors and Reversible Rectification Switch , 2019, Advanced materials.

[20]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Artificial light-driven ion pump for photoelectric energy conversion , 2019, Nature Communications.

[21]  Liang Zhao,et al.  Applications of 2D MXenes in energy conversion and storage systems. , 2019, Chemical Society reviews.

[22]  Huanting Wang,et al.  Bioinspired Self‐Gating Nanofluidic Devices for Autonomous and Periodic Ion Transport and Cargo Release , 2018, Advanced Functional Materials.

[23]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Bacteriorhodopsin-Inspired Light-Driven Artificial Molecule Motors for Transmembrane Mass Transportation. , 2018, Angewandte Chemie.

[24]  Lei Jiang,et al.  A Magnetic Gated Nanofluidic Based on the Integration of a Superhydrophilic Nanochannels and a Reconfigurable Ferrofluid , 2018, Advanced materials.

[25]  Yong‐Ill Lee,et al.  Multiple Emitting Amphiphilic Conjugated Polythiophenes‐Coated CdTe QDs for Picogram Detection of Trinitrophenol Explosive and Application Using Chitosan Film and Paper‐Based Sensor Coupled with Smartphone , 2018, Advanced science.

[26]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Self-Assembled Porphyrin Nanofiber Membrane-Decorated Alumina Channels for Enhanced Photoelectric Response. , 2018, ACS nano.

[27]  P. Giusto,et al.  Nanofluidic Ion Transport and Energy Conversion through Ultrathin Free-Standing Polymeric Carbon Nitride Membranes. , 2018, Angewandte Chemie.

[28]  P. Evans,et al.  Modulation of N3 and N719 dye···TiO2 Interfacial Structures in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells As Influenced by Dye Counter Ions, Dye Deprotonation Levels, and Sensitizing Solvent , 2018 .

[29]  Omar Azzaroni,et al.  Phosphate-Responsive Biomimetic Nanofluidic Diodes Regulated by Polyamine-Phosphate Interactions: Insights into Their Functional Behavior from Theory and Experiment. , 2018, Small.

[30]  A. Rao,et al.  Long-range exciton transport in conjugated polymer nanofibers prepared by seeded growth , 2018, Science.

[31]  Zhen Zhang,et al.  Bioinspired smart asymmetric nanochannel membranes. , 2018, Chemical Society reviews.

[32]  J. Zhai,et al.  Artificial NO and Light Cooperative Nanofluidic Diode Inspired by Stomatal Closure of Guard Cells. , 2018, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[33]  Lei Jiang,et al.  N3/Al2O3 composite nanochannels: photoelectric and photoelectric-and-pH cooperatively controlled ion gating , 2017 .

[34]  Lu Liu,et al.  A light-regulated host–guest-based nanochannel system inspired by channelrhodopsins protein , 2017, Nature Communications.

[35]  Han Sun,et al.  Polythiophene–Peptide Biohybrid Assemblies for Enhancing Photoinduced Hydrogen Evolution , 2017 .

[36]  Lei Jiang,et al.  A Tunable Ionic Diode Based on a Biomimetic Structure-Tailorable Nanochannel. , 2017, Angewandte Chemie.

[37]  D. Correa,et al.  Synthesis of a Nanocomposite Containing a Water-Soluble Polythiophene Derivative and Gold Nanoparticles , 2016 .

[38]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Bioinspired Smart Gate-Location-Controllable Single Nanochannels: Experiment and Theoretical Simulation. , 2015, ACS nano.

[39]  J. C. Lima,et al.  Visible-light photochemical activity of nanoporous carbons under monochromatic light. , 2014, Angewandte Chemie.

[40]  Jin Zhai,et al.  Artificial Ion Channels Regulating Light‐Induced Ionic Currents in Photoelectrical Conversion Systems , 2014, Advanced materials.

[41]  P. Blom,et al.  Trap‐Limited Exciton Diffusion in Organic Semiconductors , 2014, Advanced materials.

[42]  J. Rochaix.  Fine-Tuning Photosynthesis , 2013, Science.

[43]  Zeng-Qiang Wu,et al.  Solution‐pH‐Modulated Rectification of Ionic Current in Highly Ordered Nanochannel Arrays Patterned with Chemical Functional Groups at Designed Positions , 2013 .

[44]  Y. Tachibana,et al.  Artificial photosynthesis for solar water-splitting , 2012, Nature Photonics.

[45]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Light-regulated ion transport through artificial ion channels based on TiO2 nanotubular arrays. , 2012, Chemical communications.

[46]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Assembly of F0F1-ATPase into solid state nanoporous membrane. , 2011, Chemical communications.

[47]  Z. Siwy,et al.  Comparison of bipolar and unipolar ionic diodes , 2010, Nanotechnology.

[48]  Javier Cervera,et al.  Layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes into ionic current rectifying solid-state nanopores: insights from theory and experiment. , 2010, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[49]  Zuzanna S Siwy,et al.  Biosensing with nanofluidic diodes. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[50]  P. Renaud,et al.  Transport phenomena in nanofluidics , 2008 .

[51]  Yongfang Li,et al.  Two Polythiophene Derivatives Containing Phenothiazine Units: Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties , 2008 .

[52]  S. Carter,et al.  Controlling the photoluminescence of water-soluble conjugated poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethyloxy-4-butylsulfonate)] for biosensor applications , 2007 .

[53]  R. Vittal,et al.  Linkage of N3 dye to N3 dye on nanocrystalline TiO2 through trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene for enhancement of photocurrent of dye-sensitized solar cells. , 2006, Chemical communications.

[54]  A. Majumdar,et al.  Diffusion-limited patterning of molecules in nanofluidic channels. , 2006, Nano letters.

[55]  Sheshanath V. Bhosale,et al.  Photoproduction of Proton Gradients with π-Stacked Fluorophore Scaffolds in Lipid Bilayers , 2006, Science.

[56]  Christoph J. Brabec,et al.  Design Rules for Donors in Bulk‐Heterojunction Solar Cells—Towards 10 % Energy‐Conversion Efficiency , 2006 .

[57]  Michael Grätzel,et al.  Solar energy conversion by dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells. , 2005, Inorganic chemistry.

[58]  S. Carter,et al.  Characterization of the Photoluminescence Quenching of Mixed Water-Soluble Conjugated Polymers for Potential Use as Biosensor Materials , 2005 .

[59]  Z. Siwy,et al.  Conical-nanotube ion-current rectifiers: the role of surface charge. , 2004, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[60]  M. A. De la Rosa,et al.  Electron transfer between membrane complexes and soluble proteins in photosynthesis. , 2003, Accounts of chemical research.

[61]  D C Rees,et al.  Light-induced structural changes in photosynthetic reaction center: implications for mechanism of electron-proton transfer. , 1997, Science.

[62]  Thomas A. Moore,et al.  Conversion of light energy to proton potential in liposomes by artificial photosynthetic reaction centres , 1997, Nature.

[63]  J. Barber.  Photosynthetic energy conversion: natural and artificial. , 2009, Chemical Society reviews.

[64]  T. Moore,et al.  Mimicking photosynthetic solar energy transduction. , 2001, Accounts of chemical research.