Artificial photosynthesis at octane/water interface in the presence of hydrated chlorophyll a oligomer thin film

Abstract
The interface between two immiscible liquids with immobilized photosynthetic pigments can serve as the simplest model of a biological membrane convenient for the investigation of photoprocesses that are accompanied by spatial separation of charges. Oxygen evolution with a quantum efficiency of 10 - 20% can be seen by illuminating the octane/water interface having hydrated oligomer of chlorophyll (alpha) with proton acceptors in octane and electron acceptors in water. Considering the importance of such a model of photosynthetic membranes, in the present communication we have investigated the optical and absorption properties of wet chlorophyll (alpha) . The absorption, circular dichroism, and fluorescence properties of chlorophyll (alpha) in a non-polar solvent and in thin films were studied. The adsorption isotherms of dry and wet chlorophyll (alpha) at octane/water interface were also measured. The difference in adsorption behavior of chlorophyll (alpha) dissolved in dry and wet octane is discussed.