Photoswitchable Sn-Cyt c Solid-State Devices

Electron transfer across proteins plays an important role in many biological processes, including those relevant for the conversion of solar photons to chemical energy. Previous studies demonstrated the generation of photocurrents upon light irradiation in a number of photoactive proteins, such as photosystem I or bacteriorhodopsin. Here, it is shown that Sn-cytochrome c layers act as reversible and efficient photoelectrochemical switches upon integration into large-area solid-state junctions. Photocurrents are observed both in the Soret band (λ = 405 nm) and in the Q band (λ = 535 nm), with current on/off ratios reaching values of up to 25. The underlying modulation in charge-transfer rate is attributed to a hole-transport channel created by the photoexcitation of the Sn-porphyrin.