Interface states in electron-transfer processes

The Role of Interface States in Electron-Transfer Processes at Photoexcited Semiconductor Electrodes... 

There are two possible excited state interfacial electron transfer processes that can occur from a molecular excited state, S, created at a metal surface (a) the metal accepts an electron from S to form S+ or (b) the metal donates an electron to S to form S . Neither of these processes has been directly observed. The two processes would be competitive and unless there is some preference, no net charge will cross the interface. In order to obtain a steady-state photoelectrochemical response, back interfacial electron transfer reactions of S+ (or S ) to yield ground-state products must also be eliminated. Energy transfer from an excited sensitizer to the metal is thermodynamically favorable and allowed by both Forster and Dexter mechanisms [20, 21]. There exists a theoretical [20] and experimental [21] literature describing energy transfer quenching of molecular excited states by metals. How-... 

One of the most intriguing aspects of electrochemistry involves the homogeneous chemical reactions that often accompany heterogeneous electron-transfer processes occurring at the electrode-solution interface. The addition or removal of an electron from a molecule generates a new redox state, which can be chemically reactive. A variety of mechanisms, some of which involve complicated sequences of electrode and chemical reactions, have been characterized. Several of the more common mechanisms with examples of applicable chemical systems are described next. More examples are given in Chaps. 21 and 23. 

In this section, we first consider a general model of the faradaic processes occurring at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface due to Gerischer [11]. From Gerischer s model, using the potential distribution at the interface, we may derive a Tafel-type description of the variation of electron transfer with potential and we will then consider the transport limitations discussed above. We then turn to the case of intermediate interactions, in which the electron transfer process is mediated by surface states on the semiconductor and, finally, we consider situations in which the simple Gerischer model breaks down. 

Equation (11) is the transition-state equation for electrochemical rates (i is, of course, proportional to d and concentration of reactants in the double layer at the electrode interface in the usual way ) and is obviously equivalent to the Tafel equation in exponential form [Eq. (4)]. From Eq. (11) it is seen that the Tafel slope for a simple electron transfer process is RT/pF, i.e., b is linear in temperature. We shall return later to a more critical examination of Eq. (11) insofar as energy and entropy components of the free energy of activation are concerned. 

In another example, a mixed monolayer composed of a photoisomerizable component and an electrochemical catalyst was applied to switch the electrocatalytic properties of a modified electrode between ON - and OFF -states. A gold electrode surface functionalized with a spiropyran-monolayer and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) moieties incorporated into the mono-layer was applied to control the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH by light [92]. The positively charged merocyanine-state interface resulted in the repulsion of Ca2+ cations (promoters for the NADH oxidation by the PQQ), thus resulting in the inhibition of the electrocatalytic process. In the nitrospiropyran-state the monolayer does not prevent association of the PQQ-catalyst and Ca2+-promoter, so provides efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH. Similar results have been achieved by a combination of the photo- and thermal effects resulting in the isomerization of the spiropyran-monolayer with the incorporated PQQ-catalyst [93], Other photoisomerizable materials such as an azobenzenealkanethiol derivative mixed with a ferrocene-redox component have also been used to control the electrocatalyzed electron transfer process between a command interface and a dissolved redox probe [94]. 

Figure 11.7. Characteristic decay of the triplet state of protoIX, chlorin e-6 and SnTPPC in aqueous phase monitored by flash photolysis. The composition of the electrolyte is identical to the one in photocurrent measurement at the water/DCE interface. Photoinduced heterogeneous electron transfer is effectively in competition with their relaxation process.

In the presence of redox couples confined to the hydrophobic liquid phase, photoinduced heterogeneous electron transfer can be effectively monitored by photoelectrochemical techniques under potentiostatic conditions. The photocurrent responses are uniquely related to specifically adsorbed porphyrins, as demonstrated by the photocurrent anisotropy to the angle of polarisation of the incident illumination (Section 4.3). Systematic studies of the photocurrent intensity as a function of the formal potential of the redox couple and the Galvani potential difference revealed that the dynamics of electron transfer are determined by the distance separating the redox species at the interface. Other processes including decay of the electronically excited state, back electron transfer, porphyrin regeneration and coupled ion transfer play important role on the dynamics of the photocurrent responses. 

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