Electrochemical measurements of molecular compounds in homogeneous solution under photoirradiation

• Published in: Coordination chemistry reviews 2018-11, Vol.374, p.416-429
• Main Authors: Fukatsu, Arisa, Kondo, Mio, Masaoka, Shigeyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cyclic voltammetry; Electrochemistry; Organic compound; Photochemical reaction; Thin layer voltammetry; Transition metal complex
• ISSN: 0010-8545; 1873-3840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2018.06.016

[Display omitted] •Review of electrochemical measurements under photoirradiation for solution systems.•Photoelectrochemical systems are classified into five categories.•The thin layer system is useful to measure cyclic voltammetry under photoirradiation. Photochemical reactions are crucial chemical reactions not only in biophysical processes, such as photosynthesis and phototransduction, but also in technological applications, such as artificial photosynthesis and optogenetics. To understand the mechanisms of photochemical reactions, which involve initial photoexcitation and subsequent chemical processes, analytical techniques to evaluate the properties and reactivities of photochemically generated intermediates are highly important. In this review, photoelectrochemical techniques that enable electrochemical measurements of molecular substrates such as transition metal complexes and organic compounds in homogeneous solution under photoirradiation are summarized. First, we introduce four photoelectrochemical systems developed in the 1960–80s: photopolarography, the rotating photoelectrode technique, the flow cell system and photomodulation voltammetry. Next, a recently developed system for cyclic voltammetry under photoirradiation is described. We hope that this review will contribute to the further development and improvement of photoelectrochemical measurement systems for molecular substrates.