Photosynthetic processes employ light-harvesting complexes containing assemblies or arrays of chlorophyll molecules (natural porphyrins) to capture dilute sunlight and drive charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centres. This has inspired researchers to investigate the assembly of porphyrin arrays in order to develop light-driven processes. In this project, the nature and scope of using assemblies of synthetic porphyrins to harvest light in 3D will be investigated. A systematic synthesis of the porphyrin assemblies will provide the foundation for the use of innovative spectroscopic techniques to develop an understanding of their function in titania solar cells. This offers the exciting possibility of new light driven devices.
Photosynthetic processes employ light-harvesting complexes containing assemblies or arrays of chlorophyll molecules (natural porphyrins) to capture dilute sunlight and drive charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centres. This has inspired researchers to investigate the assembly of porphyrin arrays in order to develop light-driven processes. In this project, the nature and scope of using assemblies of synthetic porphyrins to harvest light in 3D will be investigated. A systematic synthesis of the porphyrin assemblies will provide the foundation for the use of innovative spectroscopic techniques to develop an understanding of their function in titania solar cells. This offers the exciting possibility of new light driven devices.