In this study, a new type of functional, self-assembled nanostructure formed from porphyrins and polyamidoamine dendrimers based on hydrogen bonding in an aqueous solution is presented. As the aggregates formed are promising candidates for solar-energy conversion, their photocatalytic activity is tested using the model reaction of methyl viologen reduction. The self-assembled structures show significantly increased activity as compared to unassociated porphyrins. Details of interaction forces driving the supramolecular structure formation and regulating catalytic efficiency are fundamentally discussed.
Keywords: dendrimers; hydrogen-bonding; isothermal titration calorimetry; porphyrins; self-assembly.
© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.