Stepwise fabrication of molecular-based, cross linked, light harvesting arrays

Abstract

A method of forming a crosslinked, non-discotic backbone polymer coating on a substrate, comprises the steps of: (a) coupling a layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to the substrate; (b) cross-linking the layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to form a layer of cross-linked porphyrinic macrocycles; and then (c) coupling a subsequent layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to the layer of cross-linked porphyrinic macrocycles of step (b) to form a non-discotic backbone polymer of porphyrinic macrocycles between the cross linked layer of step (b) and the subsequent layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to form a crosslinked, non-discotic backbone polymer coating thereon. Light harvesting arrays and solar cells that can be produced by such methods are also described.

1 . A method of forming a crosslinked, non-discotic backbone polymer coating on a substrate, comprising the steps of:
 (a) coupling a layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to said substrate;   (b) cross-linking said layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to form a layer of cross-linked porphyrinic macrocycles; and then   (c) coupling a subsequent layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to said layer of cross-linked porphyrinic macrocycles of step (b) to form a non-discotic backbone polymer of porphyrinic macrocycles between said cross linked layer of step (b) and said subsequent layer of porphyrinic macrocycles to form a crosslinked, non-discotic backbone polymer coating thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 (d) repeating steps (b) to (c) at least once to produce a substrate having an extended, crosslinked, non-discotic backbone polymer coating formed thereon.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 (d) repeating step (b) at least twice and repeating step (c) at least once to produce a substrate having an extended, partially crosslinked, non-discotic backbone polymer coating formed thereon.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling step (c) comprises a beta or meso coupling step. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said porphyrinic macrocycles are selected from the group consisting of porphyrins, chlorins, bacteriochlorins, isobacteriochlorins, oxochlorins, dioxobacteriochlorins, dioxoisobacteriochlorins, pyrophorbins, bacteriopyrophorbins, phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, tetraazaporphyrins, core modified porphyrinic derivatives, and expanded or contracted porphyrinic derivatives. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-discotic backbone polymer comprises a double-decker sandwich coordination compound coupled to said substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is transparent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is opaque. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is reflective. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises an electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-discotic backbone polymer is oriented substantially perpendicularly to said substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-discotic backbone polymer is an intrinsic rectifier of excited-state energy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-discotic backbone polymer is an intrinsic rectifier of holes. 
     
     
         14 - 33 . (canceled)