title: Enhancing the photoelectric effect with a potential-programmed molecular rectifier.
abstract: Dendrimer-based electron rectifiers were applied to photoconducting devices. A remarkable enhancement of the photocurrent response was observed when a zinc porphyrin as the photosensitizer was embedded in the dendritic phenylazomethine (DPA) architecture. The dendrimer-based sensitizer exhibited a 20-fold higher current response than the non-dendritic zinc porphyrin. In sharp contrast, a similar application of the dendrimer with poly(vinylcarbazole) as the electron donor resulted in a decreased response. This is consistent with the idea that the DPA facilitates electron transfer from the core to its periphery along a potential gradient, as predicted by density functional theory calculations.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imaoka
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Kimihisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto