Quantum Yield of Photoinduced Electron Transfer Across Microemulsion Interfaces

Devices that mimic the natural photosynthetic pathway are of considerable interest as fuel sources. Quantum yield of viologen radical formation in several water-in-oil microemulsion system were measured. The yield of hexadecylviologen radical formation in microemulsion system using EDTA as an electron donor, ruthenium bipyridinium complex as photosensitizer, and hexadecylviologen as an electron acceptor was 12%. When benzylnicotinamide was inserted in the interface of the microemulsion and azo compound was dissolved in oil face, the quantum yield of hydroazo compound was 0.16. Organic dye (Rose bengal) was used as photosensitizer for the photoinduced electron transfer reaction. In anionic microemulsion no electrontransfer was observed.