Ultrafast Photoinduced Electron Transfer between Carbon Nanoparticles and Cyclometalated Rhodium and Iridium Complexes

Light-harvesting features of cyclometalated complexes of Ir(III) and Rh(III) contribute toward photoinduced electron and energy transfer for solar energy conversion and photocatalysis. Here we report four cyclometalated complexes of Rh and Ir among which one is heterometallic. These complexes, on interaction with fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in acetone medium, form molecular composites through hydrophobic interaction in the ground state followed by photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Quenching of CNP fluorescence and electrochemical measurements indicate occurrence of electron injection from the complexes to the CNPs.