Heterosupramolecular Chemistry:  Self-Assembly of an Electron Donor (TiO2 Nanocrystallite)−Acceptor (Viologen) Complex

A TiO 2 nanocrystallite has been modified to selectively bind, by complementary hydrogen bonding, a uracil substrate incorporating a viologen moiety. Bandgap excitation of the self-assembled donor (TiO 2 nanocrystallite)−acceptor (viologen) complex results in electron transfer. Some implications of these findings for the self-assembly of functional nanostructures containing both condensed phase and molecular components are considered.