Yucknovsky, A. and Amdursky, N. orcid.org/0000-0003-1543-5333 (2025) Photoacids and photobases: applications in functional dynamic systems. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64 (9). e202422963. ISSN 1433-7851
Abstract
Brønsted photoacids and photobases are a unique class of molecules that undergo a major change in their pKa values between their ground and excited states, resulting in donating or accepting a proton, respectively, but only after light excitation. This property of photoacids/photobases makes them an attractive tool for light-gating various dynamic processes. Here, we review the use of this property to manipulate functional dynamic systems with light. We discuss how a proton transfer event that can happen upon light excitation from a photoacid to a chemical moiety of a certain system or, vice versa, from the system to a photobase, can result in a shift in the equilibrium of the system, resulting in some dynamicity. We detail various systems, including self-assembly processes of nanostructures, self-propulsion of droplets, catalysis for hydrogen evolution or CO2 capturing, nanotechnological devices based on enzymatic processes, and changes in proton-conducting ionophores and materials. We detail the basic guidelines for using Brønsted photoacids and photobases in a desired system and conclude with the current technological gaps in further using these molecules.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Author(s). Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 05 Feb 2025 09:50 |
Last Modified: | 14 Mar 2025 14:53 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/anie.202422963 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:222839 |