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-fuel conversion. Herein, we report a Cu(I)-based donor- chromophore-acceptor triad comprising a triphenylamine electron donor and a 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.