Photoinitiated vectorial transmembrane electron transfer in bilayers sensitized by a face to face triporphyrin acting as a molecular electronic device. Amplification due to ionic coupling.

Under light excitation transmembrane electron transfer is observed when a stacked Zn-Cu-Zn triporphyrin is incorporated in a bilayer between aqueous redox phases. The electric polarization of the membrane due to the photoinduced transmembrane charge flux drives ion transport. This effect increases the net charge transfer across the system, giving rise to an amplification similar to a field effect transistor. Thus this system can be considered an organic phototransistor.