Issue 100, 2021

Artificial light-harvesting systems based on macrocycle-assisted supramolecular assembly in aqueous media

Abstract

Light-harvesting, which involves the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy by natural systems such as plants, bacteria, is one of the most universal routine activities in nature. Thus far, various artificial light-harvesting systems (LHSs) have been fabricated toward solar energy utilization through mimicking natural photosynthesis in simplified and altered ways. Macrocycles are supramolecular hosts with unique cavities, in which specific guest molecules can be recognized based on non-covalent interactions. They have been widely employed in constructing LHSs due to their ability to form supramolecular assembly and dynamic molecular activity. In this review, we mainly focus on some representative examples reported by our group and other groups. Specifically, the fabrication of LHSs and their related discussions, such as a high donor/acceptor ratio, driving force for the formation of supramolecular assemblies and energy transfer mechanisms using different water-soluble macrocycles such as cyclodextrins (CD), pillararenes (PA), calixarenes (CA), cucurbiturils (CB), and other macrocycles will be included. In addition, how the resulting supramolecular self-assembled LHSs could be potentially utilized for photocatalysis, sensing, and imaging is also explained in detail. Challenges and developing trends for photochemical solar energy conversion will also be presented.

Graphical abstract: Artificial light-harvesting systems based on macrocycle-assisted supramolecular assembly in aqueous media

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
25 10 2021
Accepted
22 11 2021
First published
22 11 2021

Chem. Commun., 2021,57, 13641-13654

Artificial light-harvesting systems based on macrocycle-assisted supramolecular assembly in aqueous media

K. Wang, K. Velmurugan, B. Li and X. Hu, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 13641 DOI: 10.1039/D1CC06011B

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