Efficient photoredox cycles to control perylenediimide self-assembly

13 June 2022, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Photoreduction of perylenediimide (PDI) derivatives has been widely studied for use in photocatalysis, hydrogen evolution, photo-responsive gels, and organic semiconductors. Upon light irradiation, the radical anion (PDI•–) can readily be obtained, whereas further reduction to the dianion (PDI2–) is rare. Here we show that full 2-electron photoreduction can be achieved using UVC light: 1) in anaerobic conditions by ‘direct photoreduction’ of PDI aggregates, or 2) by ‘indirect photoreduction’ in aerobic conditions due to acetone ketyl radicals. The latter strategy is also efficient for other dyes, such as naphthalenediimide (NDI) and methylviologen (MV2+). Efficient photoreduction on the minute time-scale using simple LED light in aerobic conditions is attractive for use in dissipative light-driven systems and materials.

Keywords

perylenediimide
self-assembly
photoreduction
ketyl radical
redox
dissipative self-assembly

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