Fe(phen)32+‐Modified Zeolite Particles and Their Energetic Studies

Chemically modified zeolite Y (NaY) particles and their resulting modified electrodes were prepared with acridinium (AcH+), iron(II) and 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) for energetic studies. According to diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, AcH⁺ and Fe(phen)₃²⁺ were successfully entrapped in the zeolite particles. Transient emission spectra measurements showed that the life time of AcH+* in the zeolite particles (to 35 ns; λ_ex 365 nm; λ_em 500 nm) was greatly reduced upon incorporating Fe(phen)₃²⁺ and Fe²⁺. The fast de cay of AcH+*(NaY) suggested that a reductive quench was likely to take place in the zeolite particle. Probably due to a size‐exclusion effect, the bulky electron donor, N, N‐diethyl‐2‐methyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine (DEPD), revealed a difficulty in reaching the photosensitizer, AcH⁺, in side the zeolite particle. As a consequence, the in significant photocurrent for the oxidation of DEPD was from the NaY|AcH⁺ electrode. However, if Fe²⁺ and Fe(phen)₃²⁺ were incorporated, the photocurrent would become more significant. Closer examinations, in addition, showed that the photooxidaton of DEPD occurred more rapidly on the NaY|AcH⁺|Fe(phen)₃²⁺ electrode, compared to the NaY|AcH⁺|Fe²⁺ electrode. This difference apparently results from a greater gap in energetics between DEPD and Fe(phen)₃³⁺_(NaY) than that between DEPD and Fe³⁺_(NaY). Due to this effect, a greater amount of indophenol blue, derived from the coupling reaction of the oxidized DEPD with 1‐naphthol, was formed and de posited on the NaY|AcH⁺|Fe(phen)₃²⁺modified electrode. Thanks to this photo‐induced charge‐transfer reaction, the NaY|AcH⁺|Fe(phen)₃²⁺ particle showed an application potential in image recording.