{
  "abstract": "Prompt back electron transfer (BET) limits the lifetime and chemical utility of photogenerated radical pairs in solution. While proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) can alter the recombination coordinate, effective proton-coupled stabilization requires simultaneous control of electron-transfer energetics, proton-transfer geometry, and radical-pair recombination. Here, we introduce a supramolecular “dual-lock” strategy distributing redox and proton-transfer functions across two molecular components. As a proof of principle, acridine (Acr) and citrazinic acid (CAH) self-assemble through ground-state proton transfer and ion pairing into supramolecular assemblies containing locally H-type-coupled CAH-derived domains. Photoexcitation generates an AcrH˙2+-containing radical-ion pair, and a persistent transient accumulates only in the CAH-rich assembled regime. Assembly-dependent stabilization of this radical pair provides a “spatial lock” against prompt BET. An approximately 190 ps aggregate-associated relaxation may involve charge distribution, whereas a later 970 ps conversion contains a substantial solvent-friction-sensitive contribution together with residual isotope sensitivity and is most consistent with proton transfer coupled to structural reorganization. Together with potential-dependent spectroelectrochemical evolution from AcrH˙2+-like toward Acr˙+-like absorption, these observations support proton transfer to an Acr˙+-containing, proton-reorganized aggregate radical state. The resulting state remains detectable into the sub-microsecond regime. These observations support a kinetic-relay model in which early assembly-dependent stabilization creates the time window required for slower proton-gated stabilization of a charge-separated state.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Physics and Materials Science, Guangzhou University Guangzhou 510006 China",
    "Henan Key Laboratory of Infrared Materials and Spectrum Measures and Applications, School of Physics, Henan Normal University Xinxiang 453007 China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zicheng Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiangyan Zhou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiehao He"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiashun Xiong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Huiwen Guo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Enyi Lan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zheng Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chaochao Qin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiawen Fang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1118-7689"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/922wvxjkyk3w4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1039/d6sc05400e",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13697632/",
  "id": "922wvxjkyk3w4",
  "issns": [
    "2041-6520",
    "2041-6539"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc05400e",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-3.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 3.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1606|Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223106848",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13697632/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13697632",
  "pmid": "42936477",
  "published": "2026-10-21",
  "publisher": "Royal Society of Chemistry",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/922wvxjkyk3w4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:39Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13697632",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc05400e"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:25Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13697632",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13697632"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1606|Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies",
      "subfield": "physical"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A supramolecular dual-lock strategy for retarding prompt back electron transfer",
  "title_text": "A supramolecular dual-lock strategy for retarding prompt back electron transfer",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:34:38Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/922wvxjkyk3w4",
  "venue": "Chemical Science",
  "versions": []
}