Photoinduced electron transfer processes of (E)-9-(4-nitrostyryl)anthracene in non-polar solvent medium: generation of long-lived charge-separated states $$^{\S }$$ §

Abstract

In the present study, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) dynamics between N,N-diethylaniline (DEA) and (E)-9-(4-nitrostyryl)anthracene (An-NO 2 ) in a non-polar solvent medium {methylcyclohexane (MCH)}, has been investigated. The rate constant of back electron transfer (k BET ) for the An-NO 2 -DEA pair was ∼ 3.8 × 10 5 s −1 which is ca. 2 orders of magnitude less compared to the anthracene (An)-DEA (control) system. The results indicate that long-lived charge separated species can be generated using the design strategy used herein by achieving resonance stabilization of the excited state (acceptor) radical via conjugation.