Encapsulated triplet-triplet annihilation-based upconversion in the aqueous phase for sub-band-gap semiconductor photocatalysis.
We herein report the first instance of aqueous-phase photosensitization of semiconductor photocatalysts (WO(3) loaded with Pt) through triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA)-based upconversion of sub-band-gap photons. The TTA-based upconversion (UC) was achieved in the aqueous phase by encapsulating the solvent phase containing a benchmark platinum(II) octaethylporphyrin/9,10-diphenylanthracene sensitizer/acceptor pair in a rigid polymer shell in the form of aqueous dispersible microcapsules. A mixture of hexadecane and polyisobutylene was used as the inner solvent phase. This eliminated the need for the deoxygenation step that is essential for existing TTA-based UC processes and enabled stable UC to occur even after a month of exposure to the ambient environment. The photoluminescence properties were examined, and UC-assisted photochemical production of hydroxyl radical from green (532 nm) light irradiation was demonstrated for the first time.
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Jae-Hyuk
JH
Kim
Jae-Hong
JH
Kim