The role of hydrophobicity of Os-complex-modified polymers for photosystem 1 based photocathodes

The integration of photosystem 1 in redox hydrogels based on Os-complexes modified redox polymers on electrodes yields efficient photocathodes. The generation of high photocurrent relies on high loading in PS1 and fast electron transfer rates from the electrode to PS1. The interaction between the redox polymer and PS1 influences both the loading in protein and the electron transfer rates. Since PS1 exhibits extended hydrophobic regions, polymers with similar properties may favor attractive interactions. Here we investigate three approaches to confer hydrophobicity to the redox polymer. We demonstrate that the pyridine functionality enables to switch, via basic pH values, the polymer properties from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. The transition triggers a hydrogel collapse which allows for efficient entrapment of PS1. In addition the hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance was tuned by the addition of hydrophobic group in i) the polymer backbone and ii) as substituents at the Os-complex. The increased hydrophobicity of the backbone results in higher photocurrents from PS1 integrated in the corresponding hydrogel. On the other hand, further increasing hydrophobicity of the redox relay decreases the photocurrent due to either lower mobility of the Os-complexes or poor interaction with the hydrophilic site where the redox center of PS1 is located.