Photoresponsive element utilizing a molecular heterojunction
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsSatoru Isoda, Satoshi Ueyama, Hiroaki Kawakubo, Mitsuo Maeda
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Abstract
A photoresponsive element utilizing a molecular heterojunction includes a first redox material film, a second redox material film having a different redox potential from that of the first redox material film and disposed in contact with the first redox material film, a first electrode connected to the first redox material film, and a second electrode connected to the second redox material film. The photoresponsive element is photoconductive and photovoltaic.
Claims6
A photoresponsive molecular heterojunction structure comprising:
- first and second redox films having different redox potentials disposed in contact with each other, the first redox film comprising a porphyrin derivative and the second film comprising a flavin derivative having the general formula ##STR9## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and alkyl groups, and
- (i) R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
- R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 15 to 20 carbon atoms, or
- (ii) R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms,
- R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or
- (iii) R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 15 to 20 carbon atoms,
- R.sup.21 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
- and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a methylthio acetic acid group, and a methylthio succinic acid group;
- a first electrode connected to the first redox film;
- and
- a second electrode connected to the second redox film.
A photoresponsive molecular heterojunction structure comprising:
- first and second redox films having different redox potentials disposed in contact with each other, the first redox film comprising a flavin derivative and the second redox film is a porphyrin derivative comprising one of a porphyrin metal complex and its alkali metal salt having one of the following three formulae (II), (III), (IV):
- ##STR10## where M is selected from the group consisting of Fe and Ru, X, Y, and Z are each a ligand of M selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, CO, --OCOCH.sub.3, pyridine, imidazole P(OR.sup.5).sub.3, and PR.sup.5.sub.3 (where R.sup.5 represents a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) and m and n may be the same or different integers from 5 to 20.
A method of generating a photovoltage comprising irradiating with light an element including a flavin derivative film having the general formula:
- ##STR11## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and alkyl groups and
- (i) R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms
- R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 15 to 20 carbon atoms
- (ii) R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms
- R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms
- (iii) R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having 15 to 20 carbon atoms
- R.sup.21 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
- and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a methylthio acetic acid group, and a methylthio succinic acid group, and a porphyrin derivative film disposed in contact with said flavin derivative film, a first electrode connected to said flavin derivative film and a second electrode connected to said porphyrin derivative film whereby a photovoltage is produced between said first and second electrodes.
A method of generating a photovoltage comprising irradiating with light an element including a flavin derivative film and a porphyrin derivative film disposed in contact with said flavin derivative film, the porphyrin derivative being one of a porphyrin metal complex and its alkali metal salt having one of the following three formulae (II), (III), (IV):
- ##STR12## where M is selected from the group consisting of Fe and Ru, X, Y, and Z are each a ligand of M selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, CO, --OCOCH.sub.3, pyridine, imidazole P(OR.sup.5).sub.3, and PR.sup.5.sub.3 (where R.sup.5 represents a lower alkyl group of C1 to C5 and m and n may be the same or different integers from 5 to 20, a first electrode connected to said flavin derivative film and a second electrode connected to said porphyrin derivative film whereby a photovoltage is produced between said first and second electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.