Impacts of host–guest assembly on the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of heterogenized molecular photosensitizer and catalysts

Abstract

This review focuses on taking porous matrixes as ‘molecular containers’ to tune and regulate the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of molecular photosensitizers and catalysts for application in solar energy conversion. The host–guest assemblies feature the physical separation of catalytic sites as well as a precise preorganization of photosensitizer and catalytic species in close spatial proximity. The host–guest effects on the photophysical processes, such as non-radiative or radiative energy dissipation and photoinduced energy transfer or electron transfer, and on the photocatalytic processes, such as regulating mass transfer, diverting the reaction pathway with preferable intermediate species, and modulating reaction dynamics, are demonstrated. The geometrical confinement of molecular catalysts and photosensitizers to construct the enzyme-like microenvironments provides a promising avenue for mimicking sophisticated natural photosynthesis.