Porphyrin-based supramolecular nanoarchitectures for solar energy conversion

Photofunctional molecular architectures with well-defined shapes and sizes are of great interest because of various applications such as photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and electronics. Porphyrins are promising building blocks for organized nanoscale superstructures, which perform many of the essential light-harvesting and photoinduced electron/energy transfer reaction. In this Perspective, we present the recent advances in supramolecular architectures of porphyrins for solar energy conversion. First, we state preparation and light energy conversion properties of porphyrin (donor: D) and fullerene (acceptor: A)-based composite spherical nanoassemblies. The interfacial control of D/A molecules based on our supramolecular strategy successfully demonstrates the drastic enhancement of light energy conversion properties as compared to the corresponding nonorganized systems. Then, bar-shaped structures composed of two different D and A molecules with separated inside and outside layers are discussed. This unusual rod formation shows a possibility for a novel zeolite-like photoreaction cavity with efficient visible light absorption. Finally, photophysical and phoelectrochemical properties of supramolecular composites between porphyrins and carbon naotubes/graphenes are briefly described.