# Thermoresponsive artificial light-harvesting system with temperature-gated cascade energy transfer and photocatalysis

## TL;DR

Scientists created a light-harvesting system that mimics natural photosynthesis by responding to temperature changes and generating reactive oxygen species for chemical reactions.

## Contribution

A thermoresponsive artificial system with temperature-gated energy transfer and photocatalysis, mimicking natural photosynthesis.

## Key findings

- The system uses self-assembled nanostructures to enable cascade energy transfer and ROS generation.
- Photocatalytic performance decreases at higher temperatures, similar to natural photosynthesis.
- Oxidative cleavage of 1,1-diphenylethylene derivatives reached yields of 93%.

## Abstract

Natural photosynthesis elegantly coordinates energy transfer, energy conversion, and environmental responsiveness within complex supramolecular frameworks. Replicating this multifunctionality in artificial systems remains a formidable challenge. In this work, we report a biomimetic light-harvesting system (LHS) constructed through the self-assembly of an amphiphilic molecule, TPE-CSO, which integrates aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active tetraphenylethylene and cyanostilbene chromophores with oligo(ethylene glycol) segments. The resulting nanostructures act as efficient energy donors and exhibit thermoresponsive disassembly behavior above their lower critical solution temperature (LCST). By co-assembling TPE-CSO with two fluorescent acceptor dyes, Rh6G and SR101, we established a cascade Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) network that boosts reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a temperature-dependent manner. This adaptive LHS functions as a thermosensitive photocatalyst, efficiently promoting the oxidative cleavage of 1,1-diphenylethylene derivatives with yields reaching 93%. Notably, the catalytic performance diminishes at elevated temperatures, mimicking the temperature vulnerability observed in natural photosynthetic systems. This multifunctional system represents a significant step toward biomimetic light-harvesting platforms with built-in environmental adaptability.

A supramolecular light-harvesting system (LHS) self-assembled from TPE-CSO in water enables cascade FRET, thermoresponsive ROS generation, and temperature-regulated photocatalysis, mimicking the thermal vulnerability of natural photosynthesis.