[The photoelectrochemical effect in solid films of flucoxanthine]

A negative photopotential was shown to appear upon illumination on a fucoxanthin solid film-covered platinum electrode, immersed into an electrolyte solution. The effects of electrolyte pH and the reducing and oxidyzing agents on the photopotential value and its kinetic behaviour upon illumination and in the dark were studied. The data obtained are indicative of the ability of fucoxanthin to perform photochemical reactions at the level of electron transfers, which accounts for its photosensitizing activity.