Molecular nanoarchitectures composed of porphyrins and carbon nanomaterials for light energy conversion

In this review, we report the recent advances in the construction of composite molecular nanoarchitectures of porphyrins and nanoscale carbon materials such carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) for photoinduced electron transfer and light energy conversion. First, we state novel single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)-driven aggregation of protonated porphyrins to produce supramolecular assemblies in the form of macroscopic bundles. Then, photoinduced electron transfer in self-assembled single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/zinc porphyrin (ZnP) hybrids utilizing (7,6)- and (6,5)-enriched SWCNTs having different band gaps is reported. Further, we discuss the structural and photoelectrochemical properties of porphyrin-based molecular assemblies of other carbon materials such as stacked-cup carbon nanotubes (SCCNT), carbon nanohorns (CNH) and graphenes. Finally, novel supramolecular patterning formation composed of triphenylene core-centered porphyrin hexamers for electronics is discussed.