1
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Gharbi AM, Biswas DS, Crégut O, Malý P, Didier P, Klymchenko A, Léonard J. Exciton annihilation and diffusion length in disordered multichromophoric nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:11550-11563. [PMID: 38868990 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00325j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Efficient exciton transport is the essential property of natural and synthetic light-harvesting (LH) devices. Here we investigate exciton transport properties in LH organic polymer nanoparticles (ONPs) of 40 nm diameter. The ONPs are loaded with a rhodamine B dye derivative and bulky counterion, enabling dye loadings as high as 0.3 M, while preserving fluorescence quantum yields larger than 30%. We use time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to monitor exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) kinetics within the ONPs dispersed in water. We demonstrate that unlike the common practice for photoluminescence investigations of EEA, the non-uniform intensity profile of the excitation light pulse must be taken into account to analyse reliably intensity-dependent population dynamics. Alternatively, a simple confocal detection scheme is demonstrated, which enables (i) retrieving the correct value for the bimolecular EEA rate which would otherwise be underestimated by a typical factor of three, and (ii) revealing minor EEA by-products otherwise unnoticed. Considering the ONPs as homogeneous rigid solutions of weakly interacting dyes, we postulate an incoherent exciton hoping mechanism to infer a diffusion constant exceeding 0.003 cm2 s-1 and a diffusion length as large as 70 nm. This work demonstrates the success of the present ONP design strategy at engineering efficient exciton transport in disordered multichromophoric systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Olivier Crégut
- IPCMS, Université de Strasbourg - CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Pavel Malý
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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2
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Yoshioka M, Yamauchi M, Tamai N, Masuo S. Single-Photon Emission from Organic Dye Molecules Adsorbed on a Quantum Dot via Energy Transfer. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:11548-11554. [PMID: 38063468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Single-photon emissions from individual emitters are crucial in fundamental science and quantum information technologies. Multichromophoric systems, comprising multiple dyes, can exhibit single-photon emissions through efficient annihilation between the excited states; however, exploring this phenomenon in complex systems remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated the photon statistics of emissions from multiple perylene bisimide (PBI) dyes adsorbed onto the surface of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). When multiple PBIs were simultaneously excited by both direct excitation and energy transfer from the QD, multiphoton emissions from the PBIs were observed. Conversely, when the QDs were selectively excited, multiple PBIs exhibiting single-photon emission through energy transfer from the QDs to the PBIs were found. These results highlight the intriguing interplay between multichromophoric systems and QDs, offering valuable insights into the development of efficient single-photon sources in quantum information technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyu Yoshioka
- Department of Applied Chemistry for Environment, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1 Gakuen Uegahara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1330, Japan
| | - Mitsuaki Yamauchi
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Naoto Tamai
- Department of Chemistry, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1 Gakuen Uegahara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1330, Japan
| | - Sadahiro Masuo
- Department of Applied Chemistry for Environment, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1 Gakuen Uegahara, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1330, Japan
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3
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Blanchard AT, Li Z, Duran EC, Scull CE, Hoff JD, Wright KR, Pan V, Walter NG. Ultra-photostable DNA FluoroCubes: Mechanism of Photostability and Compatibility with FRET and Dark Quenching. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:6235-6244. [PMID: 35881934 PMCID: PMC10080265 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
DNA-based FluoroCubes were recently developed as a solution to photobleaching, a ubiquitous limitation of fluorescence microscopy (Niekamp; ; Stuurman; ; Vale Nature Methods, 2020). FluoroCubes, that is, compact ∼4 × 4 × 5.4 nm3 four-helix bundles coupled to ≤6 fluorescent dyes, remain fluorescent up to ∼50× longer than single dyes and emit up to ∼40× as many photons. The current work answers two important questions about the FluoroCubes. First, what is the mechanism by which photostability is enhanced? Second, are FluoroCubes compatible with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and similar techniques? We use single particle photobleaching studies to show that photostability arises through interactions between the fluorophores and the four-helix DNA bundle. Supporting this, we discover that smaller ∼4 × 4 × 2.7 nm3 FluoroCubes also confer ultraphotostability. However, we find that certain dye-dye interactions negatively impact FluoroCube performance. Accordingly, 4-dye FluoroCubes lacking these interactions perform better than 6-dye FluoroCubes. We also demonstrate that FluoroCubes are compatible with FRET and dark quenching applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron T. Blanchard
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
- Michigan Society of Fellows, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Zi Li
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
| | - Elizabeth C. Duran
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
| | - Catherine E. Scull
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
| | - J. Damon Hoff
- Single Molecule Analysis in Real-Time (SMART) Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Keenan R. Wright
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
| | - Victor Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
| | - Nils G. Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
- Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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4
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Helmerich DA, Beliu G, Taban D, Meub M, Streit M, Kuhlemann A, Doose S, Sauer M. Photoswitching fingerprint analysis bypasses the 10-nm resolution barrier. Nat Methods 2022; 19:986-994. [PMID: 35915194 PMCID: PMC9349044 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01548-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Advances in super-resolution microscopy have demonstrated single-molecule localization precisions of a few nanometers. However, translation of such high localization precisions into sub-10-nm spatial resolution in biological samples remains challenging. Here we show that resonance energy transfer between fluorophores separated by less than 10 nm results in accelerated fluorescence blinking and consequently lower localization probabilities impeding sub-10-nm fluorescence imaging. We demonstrate that time-resolved fluorescence detection in combination with photoswitching fingerprint analysis can be used to determine the number and distance even of spatially unresolvable fluorophores in the sub-10-nm range. In combination with genetic code expansion with unnatural amino acids and bioorthogonal click labeling with small fluorophores, photoswitching fingerprint analysis can be used advantageously to reveal information about the number of fluorophores present and their distances in the sub-10-nm range in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic A Helmerich
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerti Beliu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
- Rudolf Virchow Center, Research Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Danush Taban
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mara Meub
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcel Streit
- Rudolf Virchow Center, Research Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Kuhlemann
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sören Doose
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany.
- Rudolf Virchow Center, Research Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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5
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Eder T, Kraus D, Höger S, Vogelsang J, Lupton JM. Vibrations Responsible for Luminescence from HJ-Aggregates of Conjugated Polymers Identified by Cryogenic Spectroscopy of Single Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2022; 16:6382-6393. [PMID: 35394735 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A single polymer chain can be thought of as a covalently bound J-aggregate, where the microscopic transition-dipole moments line up to emit in phase. Packing polymer chains into a bulk film can result in the opposite effect, inducing H-type coupling between chains. Cofacial transition-dipole moments oscillate out of phase, canceling each other out, so that the lowest-energy excited state turns dark. H-aggregates of conjugated polymers can, in principle, be coaxed into emitting light by mixing purely electronic and vibronic transitions. However, it is challenging to characterize this electron-phonon coupling experimentally. In a bulk film, many different conformations exist with varying degrees of intrachain J-type and interchain H-type coupling strengths, giving rise to broad and featureless aggregate absorption and emission spectra. Even if single nanoparticles consisting of only a few single chains are grown in a controlled fashion, the luminescence spectra remain broad, owing to the underlying molecular dynamics and structural heterogeneity at room temperature. At cryogenic temperatures, emission from H-type aggregates should be suppressed because, in the absence of thermal energy, internal conversion drives the aggregate to the lowest-energy dark state. At the same time, electronic and vibronic transitions narrow substantially, facilitating the attribution of spectral signatures to distinct vibrational modes. We demonstrate how to distinguish signatures of interchain H-type aggregate species from those of intramolecular J-type coupling. Whereas all dominant vibronic modes revealed in the photoluminescence (PL) and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering spectra of a single chromophore within a single polymer chain are identified in the J-type aggregate luminescence spectra, they are not all present at once in the H-type spectra. Universal spectral features are found for the luminescence from strongly HJ-coupled chains, clearly resolving the vibrations responsible for the nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics that enable light emission. We discuss the possible combinations of vibrational modes responsible for H-type aggregate PL and demonstrate that only one, mainly the lowest energy one, of the three dominant vibrational modes contributes to the 0-1 transition, whereas combinations of all three are found in the 0-2 transition. From this analysis, we can distinguish between energy shifts due to either J-type intrachain coupling or H-type interchain interactions, offering a means to directly discriminate between structural and energetic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Eder
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Kraus
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
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6
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Hauschildt SJ, Wu Z, Uersfeld D, Schmid P, Götz C, Engel V, Engels B, Müllen K, Basché T. Excitation localization in a trimeric perylenediimide macrocycle: Synthesis, theory, and single molecule spectroscopy. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:044304. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0077676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. Hauschildt
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Zehua Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Daniel Uersfeld
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul Schmid
- Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Götz
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Volker Engel
- Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Engels
- Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Müllen
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Basché
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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7
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Schröder T, Bange S, Schedlbauer J, Steiner F, Lupton JM, Tinnefeld P, Vogelsang J. How Blinking Affects Photon Correlations in Multichromophoric Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2021; 15:18037-18047. [PMID: 34735135 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c06649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A single chromophore can only emit a maximum of one single photon per excitation cycle. This limitation results in a phenomenon commonly referred to as photon antibunching (pAB). When multiple chromophores contribute to the fluorescence measured, the degree of pAB has been used as a metric to "count" the number of chromophores. But the fact that chromophores can switch randomly between bright and dark states also impacts pAB and can lead to incorrect chromophore numbers being determined from pAB measurements. By both simulations and experiment, we demonstrate how pAB is affected by independent and collective chromophore blinking, enabling us to formulate universal guidelines for correct interpretation of pAB measurements. We use DNA-origami nanostructures to design multichromophoric model systems that exhibit either independent or collective chromophore blinking. Two approaches are presented that can distinguish experimentally between these two blinking mechanisms. The first one utilizes the different excitation intensity dependence on the blinking mechanisms. The second approach exploits the fact that collective blinking implies energy transfer to a quenching moiety, which is a time-dependent process. In pulsed-excitation experiments, the degree of collective blinking can therefore be altered by time gating the fluorescence photon stream, enabling us to extract the energy-transfer rate to a quencher. The ability to distinguish between different blinking mechanisms is valuable in materials science, such as for multichromophoric nanoparticles like conjugated-polymer chains as well as in biophysics, for example, for quantitative analysis of protein assemblies by counting chromophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schröder
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bange
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Schedlbauer
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Florian Steiner
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philip Tinnefeld
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
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8
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Wittmann B, Biskup T, Kreger K, Köhler J, Schmidt HW, Hildner R. All-optical manipulation of singlet exciton transport in individual supramolecular nanostructures by triplet gating. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2021; 6:998-1005. [PMID: 34731228 DOI: 10.1039/d1nh00514f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Directed transport of singlet excitation energy is a key process in natural light-harvesting systems and a desired feature in assemblies of functional organic molecules for organic electronics and nanotechnology applications. However, progress in this direction is hampered by the lack of concepts and model systems. Here we demonstrate an all-optical approach to manipulate singlet exciton transport pathways within supramolecular nanostructures via singlet-triplet annihilation, i.e., to enforce an effective motion of singlet excitons along a predefined direction. For this proof-of-concept, we locally photo-generate a long-lived triplet exciton population and subsequently a singlet exciton population on single bundles of H-type supramolecular nanofibres using two temporally and spatially separated laser pulses. The local triplet exciton population operates as a gate for the singlet exciton transport since singlet-triplet annihilation hinders singlet exciton motion across the triplet population. We visualize this manipulation of singlet exciton transport via the fluorescence signal from the singlet excitons, using a detection-beam scanning approach combined with time-correlated single-photon counting. Our reversible, all-optical manipulation of singlet exciton transport can pave the way to realising new design principles for functional photonic nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Wittmann
- Spectroscopy of Soft Matter, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Till Biskup
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Kreger
- Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Polymer Institute, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Jürgen Köhler
- Spectroscopy of Soft Matter, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Polymer Institute, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Institute of Macromolecular Research (BIMF), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Hans-Werner Schmidt
- Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Polymer Institute, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Richard Hildner
- Spectroscopy of Soft Matter, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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9
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Abstract
It is challenging to increase the rigidity of a macromolecule while maintaining solubility. Established strategies rely on templating by dendrons, or by encapsulation in macrocycles, and exploit supramolecular arrangements with limited robustness. Covalently bonded structures have entailed intramolecular coupling of units to resemble the structure of an alternating tread ladder with rungs composed of a covalent bond. We introduce a versatile concept of rigidification in which two rigid-rod polymer chains are repeatedly covalently associated along their contour by stiff molecular connectors. This approach yields almost perfect ladder structures with two well-defined π-conjugated rails and discretely spaced nanoscale rungs, easily visualized by scanning tunnelling microscopy. The enhancement of molecular rigidity is confirmed by the fluorescence depolarization dynamics and complemented by molecular-dynamics simulations. The covalent templating of the rods leads to self-rigidification that gives rise to intramolecular electronic coupling, enhancing excitonic coherence. The molecules are characterized by unprecedented excitonic mobility, giving rise to excitonic interactions on length scales exceeding 100 nm. Such interactions lead to deterministic single-photon emission from these giant rigid macromolecules, with potential implications for energy conversion in optoelectronic devices.
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10
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Freixas VM, Wilhelm P, Nelson T, Hinderer F, Höger S, Tretiak S, Lupton JM, Fernandez-Alberti S. Excitation Energy Transfer between bodipy Dyes in a Symmetric Molecular Excitonic Seesaw. J Phys Chem A 2021; 125:8404-8416. [PMID: 34542292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c06332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We examine the redistribution of energy between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom that takes place between a π-conjugated oligomer, a phenylene-butadiynylene, and two identical boron-dipyrromethene (bodipy) end-caps using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, single-molecule spectroscopy, and nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics (NEXMD) modeling techniques. The molecular structure represents an excitonic seesaw in that the excitation energy on the oligomer backbone can migrate to either one end-cap or the other, but not to both. The NEXMD simulations closely reproduce the characteristic time scale for redistribution of electronic and vibrational energy of 2.2 ps and uncover the vibrational modes contributing to the intramolecular relaxation. The calculations indicate that the dihedral angle between the bodipy dye and the oligomer change upon excitation of the oligomer. Single-molecule experiments reveal a difference in photoluminescence lifetime of the bodipy dyes depending on whether they are excited by direct absorption or by redistribution of energy from the backbone. This difference in lifetime may be attributed to the difference in dihedral angle. The simulations also suggest that a strong coupling can occur between the two end-caps, giving rise to a reversible shuttling of excitation energy between them. Strong coupling should lead to a pronounced loss in polarization memory of the fluorescence since the oligomer backbone tends to be slightly distorted and the two bodipy transition dipoles have different orientations. A sensitive single-molecule technique is presented to test for such coupling. However, although redistribution of electronic and vibrational energy between the end-caps can occur, it appears to be unidirectional and irreversible, suggesting that an additional localization mechanism is at play which is, as yet, not fully accounted for in the simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Freixas
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, B1876BXD Bernal, Argentina
| | - Philipp Wilhelm
- Institut für Angewandte und Experimentelle Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tammie Nelson
- Theoretical Division and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Florian Hinderer
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Angewandte und Experimentelle Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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11
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Xu J, Fan S, Xu L, Maruyama A, Fujitsuka M, Kawai K. Control of Triplet Blinking Using Cyclooctatetraene to Access the Dynamics of Biomolecules at the Single‐Molecule Level. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202101606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Shuya Fan
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Lei Xu
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Technology Tokyo Institute of Technology 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku Yokohama Kanagawa 226-8501 Japan
| | - Mamoru Fujitsuka
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Kiyohiko Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
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12
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Xu J, Fan S, Xu L, Maruyama A, Fujitsuka M, Kawai K. Control of Triplet Blinking Using Cyclooctatetraene to Access the Dynamics of Biomolecules at the Single‐Molecule Level. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:12941-12948. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202101606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Shuya Fan
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Lei Xu
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Technology Tokyo Institute of Technology 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku Yokohama Kanagawa 226-8501 Japan
| | - Mamoru Fujitsuka
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Kiyohiko Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN) Osaka University Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
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Lerner E, Barth A, Hendrix J, Ambrose B, Birkedal V, Blanchard SC, Börner R, Sung Chung H, Cordes T, Craggs TD, Deniz AA, Diao J, Fei J, Gonzalez RL, Gopich IV, Ha T, Hanke CA, Haran G, Hatzakis NS, Hohng S, Hong SC, Hugel T, Ingargiola A, Joo C, Kapanidis AN, Kim HD, Laurence T, Lee NK, Lee TH, Lemke EA, Margeat E, Michaelis J, Michalet X, Myong S, Nettels D, Peulen TO, Ploetz E, Razvag Y, Robb NC, Schuler B, Soleimaninejad H, Tang C, Vafabakhsh R, Lamb DC, Seidel CAM, Weiss S. FRET-based dynamic structural biology: Challenges, perspectives and an appeal for open-science practices. eLife 2021; 10:e60416. [PMID: 33779550 PMCID: PMC8007216 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) has become a mainstream technique for studying biomolecular structural dynamics. The rapid and wide adoption of smFRET experiments by an ever-increasing number of groups has generated significant progress in sample preparation, measurement procedures, data analysis, algorithms and documentation. Several labs that employ smFRET approaches have joined forces to inform the smFRET community about streamlining how to perform experiments and analyze results for obtaining quantitative information on biomolecular structure and dynamics. The recent efforts include blind tests to assess the accuracy and the precision of smFRET experiments among different labs using various procedures. These multi-lab studies have led to the development of smFRET procedures and documentation, which are important when submitting entries into the archiving system for integrative structure models, PDB-Dev. This position paper describes the current 'state of the art' from different perspectives, points to unresolved methodological issues for quantitative structural studies, provides a set of 'soft recommendations' about which an emerging consensus exists, and lists openly available resources for newcomers and seasoned practitioners. To make further progress, we strongly encourage 'open science' practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eitan Lerner
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, and The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Anders Barth
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-UniversitätDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Jelle Hendrix
- Dynamic Bioimaging Lab, Advanced Optical Microscopy Centre and Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Hasselt UniversityDiepenbeekBelgium
| | - Benjamin Ambrose
- Department of Chemistry, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Victoria Birkedal
- Department of Chemistry and iNANO center, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Scott C Blanchard
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisUnited States
| | - Richard Börner
- Laserinstitut HS Mittweida, University of Applied Science MittweidaMittweidaGermany
| | - Hoi Sung Chung
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Thorben Cordes
- Physical and Synthetic Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenPlanegg-MartinsriedGermany
| | - Timothy D Craggs
- Department of Chemistry, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Ashok A Deniz
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati School of MedicineCincinnatiUnited States
| | - Jingyi Fei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and The Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Ruben L Gonzalez
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Irina V Gopich
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Christian A Hanke
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-UniversitätDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Gilad Haran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Nikos S Hatzakis
- Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Denmark Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Sungchul Hohng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Seok-Cheol Hong
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science and Department of Physics, Korea UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Thorsten Hugel
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Antonino Ingargiola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physiology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Chirlmin Joo
- Department of BioNanoScience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of TechnologyDelftNetherlands
| | - Achillefs N Kapanidis
- Biological Physics Research Group, Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Harold D Kim
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
| | - Ted Laurence
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermoreUnited States
| | - Nam Ki Lee
- School of Chemistry, Seoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hee Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkUnited States
| | - Edward A Lemke
- Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg UniversityMainzGermany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB)MainzGermany
| | - Emmanuel Margeat
- Centre de Biologie Structurale (CBS), CNRS, INSERM, Universitié de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | | | - Xavier Michalet
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physiology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Sua Myong
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Daniel Nettels
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Physics, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Thomas-Otavio Peulen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Evelyn Ploetz
- Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) and Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM), Ludwig-Maximilians-UniversitätMünchenGermany
| | - Yair Razvag
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, and The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Nicole C Robb
- Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickCoventryUnited Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Physics, University of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Hamid Soleimaninejad
- Biological Optical Microscopy Platform (BOMP), University of MelbourneParkvilleAustralia
| | - Chun Tang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, PKU-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Reza Vafabakhsh
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern UniversityEvanstonUnited States
| | - Don C Lamb
- Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) and Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM), Ludwig-Maximilians-UniversitätMünchenGermany
| | - Claus AM Seidel
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-UniversitätDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Shimon Weiss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physiology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Physiology, CaliforniaNanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
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14
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Hedley GJ, Schröder T, Steiner F, Eder T, Hofmann FJ, Bange S, Laux D, Höger S, Tinnefeld P, Lupton JM, Vogelsang J. Picosecond time-resolved photon antibunching measures nanoscale exciton motion and the true number of chromophores. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1327. [PMID: 33637741 PMCID: PMC7910429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21474-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The particle-like nature of light becomes evident in the photon statistics of fluorescence from single quantum systems as photon antibunching. In multichromophoric systems, exciton diffusion and subsequent annihilation occurs. These processes also yield photon antibunching but cannot be interpreted reliably. Here we develop picosecond time-resolved antibunching to identify and decode such processes. We use this method to measure the true number of chromophores on well-defined multichromophoric DNA-origami structures, and precisely determine the distance-dependent rates of annihilation between excitons. Further, this allows us to measure exciton diffusion in mesoscopic H- and J-type conjugated-polymer aggregates. We distinguish between one-dimensional intra-chain and three-dimensional inter-chain exciton diffusion at different times after excitation and determine the disorder-dependent diffusion lengths. Our method provides a powerful lens through which excitons can be studied at the single-particle level, enabling the rational design of improved excitonic probes such as ultra-bright fluorescent nanoparticles and materials for optoelectronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim Schröder
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Florian Steiner
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Theresa Eder
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Felix J Hofmann
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bange
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Laux
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Philip Tinnefeld
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik and Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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15
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Kawai K, Fujitsuka M, Maruyama A. Single-Molecule Study of Redox Reaction Kinetics by Observing Fluorescence Blinking. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:1001-1010. [PMID: 33539066 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in fluorescence microscopy allow us to track chemical reactions at the single-molecule level. Single-molecule measurements make it possible to minimize the amount of sample needed for analysis and diagnosis. Signal amplification is often applied to ultralow-level biomarker detection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect DNA/RNA, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can sensitively probe antigen-antibody interactions. While these techniques are brilliant and will continue to be used in the future, single-molecule-level measurements would allow us to reduce the time and cost needed to amplify signals.The kinetics of chemical reactions have been studied mainly using ensemble-averaged methods. However, they can hardly distinguish time-dependent fluctuations and static heterogeneity of the kinetics. The information hidden in ensemble-averaged measurements would be extractable from a single-molecule experiment. Thus, single-molecule measurement would provide unique opportunities to investigate unrevealed phenomena and to elucidate the questions in chemistry, physics, and life sciences. Redox reaction, which is triggered by electron transfer, is among the most fundamental and ubiquitous chemical reactions. The redox reaction of a fluorescent molecule results in the formation of radical ions, which are normally nonemissive. In single-molecule-level measurements, the redox reaction causes the fluctuation of fluorescence signals between the bright ON-state and the dark OFF-state, in a phenomenon called blinking. The duration of the OFF-state (τOFF) corresponds to the lifetime of the radical ion state, and its reaction kinetics can be measured as 1/τOFF. Thus, the kinetics of redox reactions of fluorescent molecules can be accessed at the single-molecule level by monitoring fluorescence blinking. One of the key aspects of single-molecule analysis based on blinking is its robustness. A blinking signal with a certain regular pattern enables single fluorescent molecules to be distinguished and resolved from the random background signal.In this Account, we summarize the recent studies on the single-molecule measurement of redox reaction kinetics, with a focus on our group's recent progress. We first introduce the control of redox blinking to increase the photostability of fluorescent molecules. We then demonstrate the control of redox blinking, which allows us to detect target DNA by monitoring the function of a molecular beacon-type probe, and we investigate antigen-antibody interactions at the single-molecule level. By tracing the time-dependent changes in blinking patterns, redox blinking is shown to be adaptable to tracking the structural switching dynamics of RNA, the preQ1 riboswitch. This Account ends with a discussion of our ongoing work on the control of fluorescent blinking. We also discuss the development of devices that allow single-molecule-level analysis in a high-throughput fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyohiko Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Mamoru Fujitsuka
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
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16
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Helmerich DA, Beliu G, Sauer M. Multiple-Labeled Antibodies Behave Like Single Emitters in Photoswitching Buffer. ACS NANO 2020; 14:12629-12641. [PMID: 32804475 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c06099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The degree of labeling (DOL) of antibodies has so far been optimized for high brightness and specific and efficient binding. The influence of the DOL on the blinking performance of antibodies used in direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) has so far attained limited attention. Here, we investigated the spectroscopic characteristics of IgG antibodies labeled at DOLs of 1.1-8.3 with Alexa Fluor 647 (Al647) at the ensemble and single-molecule level. Multiple-Al647-labeled antibodies showed weak and strong quenching interactions in aqueous buffer but could all be used for dSTORM imaging with spatial resolutions of ∼20 nm independent of the DOL. Single-molecule fluorescence trajectories and photon antibunching experiments revealed that individual multiple-Al647-labeled antibodies show complex photophysics in aqueous buffer but behave as single emitters in photoswitching buffer independent of the DOL. We developed a model that explains the observed blinking of multiple-labeled antibodies and can be used for the development of improved fluorescent probes for dSTORM experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic A Helmerich
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerti Beliu
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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17
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Schedlbauer J, Scherf U, Vogelsang J, Lupton JM. Dynamic Quenching of Triplet Excitons in Single Conjugated-Polymer Chains. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:5192-5198. [PMID: 32506907 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c01308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
By measuring the fluorescence photon statistics of single chains of a conjugated polymer, we determine the lifetime of the metastable dark state, the triplet exciton. The single molecule emits single photons one at a time, giving rise to photon antibunching. These photons appear bunched in time over longer time scales because of excursions to the triplet dark state. Remarkably, this triplet intermittency in the fluorescence is spontaneously suppressed over time scales of seconds, implying that either triplet formation is inhibited or that triplets are selectively quenched without the singlet fluorescence being affected. Such discrete switching in the strength of photon bunching is only seen in highly ordered and rigid chains of a ladder-type conjugated polymer. It does not occur in single dye molecules. We propose that trapped photogenerated charges on the chain selectively quench triplets but not singlets, presumably because the effective diffusion length of triplets is longer along the highly rigid ladder-type backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Schedlbauer
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ullrich Scherf
- Macromolecular Chemistry Group, Chemistry Department and Wuppertal Center for Smart Materials & Systems CM@S, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Gauss-Strasse 20, 42097 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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18
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Schedlbauer J, Wilhelm P, Grabenhorst L, Federl ME, Lalkens B, Hinderer F, Scherf U, Höger S, Tinnefeld P, Bange S, Vogelsang J, Lupton JM. Ultrafast Single-Molecule Fluorescence Measured by Femtosecond Double-Pulse Excitation Photon Antibunching. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:1074-1079. [PMID: 31869232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b04354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Most measurements of fluorescence lifetimes on the single-molecule level are carried out using avalanche photon diodes (APDs). These single-photon counters are inherently slow, and their response shows a strong dependence on photon energy, which can make reconvolution of the instrument response function (IRF) challenging. An ultrafast time resolution in single-molecule fluorescence is crucial, e.g., in determining donor lifetimes in donor-acceptor couples which undergo energy transfer, or in plasmonic antenna structures, where the radiative rate and non-radiative rates are enhanced. We introduce a femtosecond double-excitation (FeDEx) photon correlation technique, which measures the degree of photon antibunching as a function of time delay between two excitation pulses. In this boxcar integration, the time resolution of fluorescence transients is limited solely by the laser pulse length and is independent of the detector IRF. The versatility of the technique is demonstrated with a custom-made donor-acceptor complex with one donor and two acceptors and with single dye molecules positioned accurately between two gold nanoparticles using DNA origami. The latter structures show ∼75-fold radiative-rate enhancement and fluorescence lifetimes down to 19 ps, which is measured without the need for any reconvolution. With the potential of measuring subpicosecond fluorescence lifetimes, plasmonic antenna structures can now be optimized further.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schedlbauer
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93040 Regensburg , Germany
| | - P Wilhelm
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93040 Regensburg , Germany
| | - L Grabenhorst
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 , 81377 München , Germany
| | - M E Federl
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93040 Regensburg , Germany
| | - B Lalkens
- Institute of Semiconductor Technology, LENA Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology , Technische Universität Braunschweig , Langer Kamp 6a , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany
| | - F Hinderer
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie , Universität Bonn , Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1 , 53121 Bonn , Germany
| | - U Scherf
- Macromolecular Chemistry Group, Chemistry Department and IfP , Bergische Universität Wuppertal , Gauss-Strasse 20 , 42097 Wuppertal , Germany
| | - S Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie , Universität Bonn , Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1 , 53121 Bonn , Germany
| | - P Tinnefeld
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 , 81377 München , Germany
| | - S Bange
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93040 Regensburg , Germany
| | - J Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93040 Regensburg , Germany
| | - J M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93040 Regensburg , Germany
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19
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Wilhelm P, Vogelsang J, Höger S, Lupton JM. Homo-FRET in π-Conjugated Polygons: Intermediate-Strength Dipole-Dipole Coupling Makes Energy Transfer Reversible. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:5483-5488. [PMID: 31294999 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The concept of homo-FRET is often used to describe energy transfer between like chromophores of molecular aggregates such as in π-conjugated polymers. Homo-FRET is revealed by a dynamic depolarization in fluorescence but strictly only applies to the limit of weak dipole-dipole coupling, where energy transfer occurs on time scales much longer than those of nuclear relaxation. By considering the polarization anisotropy of photoluminescence emission and excitation of model multichromophoric aggregates on the single-molecule level, we demonstrate the transition of energy-transfer dynamics from the case of weak coupling to that of strong coupling, revealing the elusive regime of intermediate-strength coupling where energy transfer between degenerate donor and acceptor chromophores becomes reversible so that information on the excitation route of the emitting chromophore is lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Wilhelm
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie , Universität Bonn , Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1 , 53121 Bonn , Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
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20
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Hofmann FJ, Bodnarchuk MI, Protesescu L, Kovalenko MV, Lupton JM, Vogelsang J. Exciton Gating and Triplet Deshelving in Single Dye Molecules Excited by Perovskite Nanocrystal FRET Antennae. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:1055-1062. [PMID: 30789278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The extraordinary absorption cross section and high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of perovskite nanocrystals make this type of material attractive to a variety of applications in optoelectronics. For the same reasons, nanocrystals are also ideally suited to function as nanoantennae to excite nearby single dye molecules by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here, we demonstrate that FAPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals, of cuboidal shape and approximately 10 nm in size, are capable of selectively exciting single cyanine 3 molecules at a concentration 100-fold higher than standard single-molecule concentrations. This FRET antenna mechanism increases the effective brightness of the single dye molecules 100-fold. Photon statistics and emission polarization measurements provide evidence for the FRET process by revealing photon antibunching with unprecedented fidelity and highly polarized emission stemming from single dye molecules. Remarkably, the quality of single-photon emission improves 1.5-fold compared to emission collected directly from the nanocrystals because the higher excited states of the dye molecule act as effective filters to multiexcitons. The same process gives rise to efficient deshelving of the molecular triplet state by reverse intersystem crossing (RISC), translating into a reduction of the PL saturation of the dye, thereby increasing the maximum achievable PL intensity of the dye by a factor of 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix J Hofmann
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstraße 31 , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Maryna I Bodnarchuk
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich , Vladimir Prelog Weg 1 , CH-8093 Zürich , Switzerland
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Überlandstrasse 129 , CH-8600 Dübendorf , Switzerland
| | - Loredana Protesescu
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich , Vladimir Prelog Weg 1 , CH-8093 Zürich , Switzerland
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Überlandstrasse 129 , CH-8600 Dübendorf , Switzerland
| | - Maksym V Kovalenko
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich , Vladimir Prelog Weg 1 , CH-8093 Zürich , Switzerland
- Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Überlandstrasse 129 , CH-8600 Dübendorf , Switzerland
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik , Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstraße 31 , 93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Department Chemie , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 , 81377 München , Germany
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21
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Schröder T, Scheible MB, Steiner F, Vogelsang J, Tinnefeld P. Interchromophoric Interactions Determine the Maximum Brightness Density in DNA Origami Structures. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:1275-1281. [PMID: 30681342 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b04845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
An ideal point light source is as small and as bright as possible. For fluorescent point light sources, homogeneity of the light sources is important as well as that the fluorescent units inside the light source maintain their photophysical properties, which is compromised by dye aggregation. Here we propose DNA origami as a rigid scaffold to arrange dye molecules in a dense pixel array with high control of stoichiometry and dye-dye interactions. In order to find the highest labeling density in a DNA origami structure without influencing dye photophysics, we alter the distance of two ATTO647N dyes in single base pair steps and probe the dye-dye interactions on the single-molecule level. For small distances strong quenching in terms of intensity and fluorescence lifetime is observed. With increasing distance, we observe reduced quenching and molecular dynamics. However, energy transfer processes in the weak coupling regime still have a significant impact and can lead to quenching by singlet-dark-state-annihilation. Our study fills a gap of studying the interactions of dyes relevant for superresolution microscopy with dense labeling and for single-molecule biophysics. Incorporating these findings in a 3D DNA origami object will pave the way to bright and homogeneous DNA origami nanobeads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schröder
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 Haus E , 81377 Muenchen , Germany
| | - Max B Scheible
- GATTAquant GmbH , Am Schlosshof 8 , 91355 Hiltpoltstein , Germany
| | - Florian Steiner
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 Haus E , 81377 Muenchen , Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 Haus E , 81377 Muenchen , Germany
| | - Philip Tinnefeld
- Department Chemie and Center for NanoScience , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen , Butenandtstrasse 5-13 Haus E , 81377 Muenchen , Germany
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22
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Vandenberk N, Karamanou S, Portaliou AG, Zorzini V, Hofkens J, Hendrix J, Economou A. The Preprotein Binding Domain of SecA Displays Intrinsic Rotational Dynamics. Structure 2018; 27:90-101.e6. [PMID: 30471924 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
SecA converts ATP energy to protein translocation work. Together with the membrane-embedded SecY channel it forms the bacterial protein translocase. How secretory proteins bind to SecA and drive conformational cascades to promote their secretion remains unknown. To address this, we focus on the preprotein binding domain (PBD) of SecA. PBD crystalizes in three distinct states, swiveling around its narrow stem. Here, we examined whether PBD displays intrinsic dynamics in solution using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET). Unique cysteinyl pairs on PBD and apposed domains were labeled with donor/acceptor dyes. Derivatives were analyzed using pulsed interleaved excitation and multi-parameter fluorescence detection. The PBD undergoes significant rotational motions, occupying at least three distinct states in dimeric and four in monomeric soluble SecA. Nucleotides do not affect smFRET-detectable PBD dynamics. These findings lay the foundations for single-molecule dissection of translocase mechanics and suggest models for possible PBD involvement during catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Vandenberk
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Spyridoula Karamanou
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Molecular Bacteriology, Herestraat 49, Gasthuisberg Campus, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Athina G Portaliou
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Molecular Bacteriology, Herestraat 49, Gasthuisberg Campus, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valentina Zorzini
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Molecular Bacteriology, Herestraat 49, Gasthuisberg Campus, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Hofkens
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Hendrix
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Dynamic Bioimaging Lab, Advanced Optical Microscopy Centre, Biomedical Research Institute, Agoralaan C (BIOMED), Hasselt University, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Anastassios Economou
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Molecular Bacteriology, Herestraat 49, Gasthuisberg Campus, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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23
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Caballero-Mancebo E, Moreno JM, Corma A, Díaz U, Cohen B, Douhal A. How Does the Surface of Al-ITQ-HB 2D-MOF Condition the Intermolecular Interactions of an Adsorbed Organic Molecule? ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:20159-20169. [PMID: 29779377 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b04222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we unravel how the two-dimensional Al-ITQ-4-heptylbenzoic acid (HB) metal-organic framework (MOF) changes the interactions of Nile red (NR) adsorbed on its surface. Time-resolved emission experiments indicate the occurrence of energy transfer between adsorbed NR molecules, in abnormally long time constant of 2-2.5 ns, which gets shorter (∼0.25 ns) when the concentration of the surface-adsorbed NR increases. We identify the emission from local excited state of aggregates and charge transfer and energy transfer between adsorbed molecules. Femtosecond emission studies reveal an ultrafast process (∼425 fs) in the NR@Al-ITQ-HB composites, assigned to an intramolecular charge transfer in NR molecules. A comparison of the observed photobehavior with that of NR/SiO2 and NR/Al2O3 composites suggests that the occurrence of energy transfer in the NR@MOF complexes is a result of specific and nonspecific interactions, reflecting the different surface properties of Al-ITQ-HB that are of relevance to the reported high catalytic activity. Our results provide new knowledge for further researches on other composites with the aim to improve understanding of photocatalytic and photonic processes within MOFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Caballero-Mancebo
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, and INAMOL , Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Avenida Carlos III, S/N , 45071 Toledo , Spain
| | - José María Moreno
- Instituto de Tecnología Química , Universitat Politecnica de Valéncia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UPV-CSIC) , Av. de los Naranjos s/n , 46022 Valencia , Spain
| | - Avelino Corma
- Instituto de Tecnología Química , Universitat Politecnica de Valéncia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UPV-CSIC) , Av. de los Naranjos s/n , 46022 Valencia , Spain
| | - Urbano Díaz
- Instituto de Tecnología Química , Universitat Politecnica de Valéncia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UPV-CSIC) , Av. de los Naranjos s/n , 46022 Valencia , Spain
| | - Boiko Cohen
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, and INAMOL , Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Avenida Carlos III, S/N , 45071 Toledo , Spain
| | - Abderrazzak Douhal
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, and INAMOL , Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Avenida Carlos III, S/N , 45071 Toledo , Spain
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24
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Allolio C, Stangl T, Eder T, Schmitz D, Vogelsang J, Höger S, Horinek D, Lupton JM. H-Aggregation Effects between π-Conjugated Chromophores in Cofacial Dimers and Trimers: Comparison of Theory and Single-Molecule Experiment. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:6431-6441. [PMID: 29741378 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b01188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Excited-state interchromophoric couplings in π-conjugated polymers present a daunting challenge to study as their spectroscopic signatures are difficult to separate from structure-dependent intrachromophoric spectral characteristics. Using custom-designed molecular model systems in combination with single-molecule spectroscopy, a controlled coupling of the excited states between cofacially arranged π-conjugated oligomers is shown to be possible. Multiscale molecular dynamics simulations allow us to generate a representative ensemble of molecular structures of the model molecule embedded in a polymer matrix and examine the connection between structural fluctuations of the molecule with theoretically predicted and measured spectral signatures. The single molecules in the embedding matrix polymer can be assigned to specific conformational features with the help of computer-based "virtual spectroscopy". By combining a quantum chemical approach with an analytical approach, we show that the coupling between the chromophores is well-described by transition dipole coupling above an interchromophoric separation of ∼4.5 Å. Even for aligned chromophores, however, twisting between repeat units of the π-system and bending of the individual π-systems can lead to a decoupling of the chromophores to a degree far beyond what their equilibrium structures would suggest: tiny displacements of the molecular constituents can dramatically impact excited-state interactions. This observation has profound implications for the design of future tunable organic optoelectronic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniela Schmitz
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn , Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1 , 53121 Bonn , Germany
| | | | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn , Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1 , 53121 Bonn , Germany
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25
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Photon antibunching in a cluster of giant CdSe/CdS nanocrystals. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1536. [PMID: 29670113 PMCID: PMC5906464 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03971-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
When closely packed into a high-density film, semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) can interact with each other to yield collective optical behaviours, which are normally difficult to characterize due to the ensemble average effect. Here we synthesized semiconductor NC clusters and performed single-particle spectroscopic measurements to probe the electronic couplings of several giant CdSe/CdS NCs contained in one cluster with nanometer-scale separations. Such a single cluster exhibits multiple emission peaks at the cryogenic temperature with nearly identical photoluminescence decay dynamics, suggesting that the Förster-type energy transfer does not occur among the composing NCs. Surprisingly, strong photon antibunching is still observed from a single cluster, which can be attributed to the Auger annihilation of photo-excited excitons from different NCs. The isolation of several nearby NCs interacting with the above novel mechanism has marked a solid progress towards a full understanding and an efficient control of the operation parameters in NC-based optoelectronic devices.
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26
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Abstract
The breaking of molecular symmetry through photoexcitation is a ubiquitous but rather elusive process, which, for example, controls the microscopic efficiency of light harvesting in molecular aggregates. A molecular excitation within a π-conjugated segment will self-localize due to strong coupling to molecular vibrations, locally changing bond alternation in a process which is fundamentally nondeterministic. Probing such symmetry breaking usually relies on polarization-resolved fluorescence, which is most powerful on the level of single molecules. Here, we explore symmetry breaking by designing a large, asymmetric acceptor-donor-acceptor (A1-D-A2) complex 10 nm in length, where excitation energy can flow from the donor, a π-conjugated oligomer, to either one of the two boron-dipyrromethene (bodipy) dye acceptors of different color. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) reveals a nondeterministic switching between the energy-transfer pathways from the oligomer to the two acceptor groups on the submillisecond timescale. We conclude that excitation energy transfer, and light harvesting in general, are fundamentally nondeterministic processes, which can be strongly perturbed by external stimuli. A simple demonstration of the relation between exciton localization within the extended π-system and energy transfer to the endcap is given by considering the selectivity of endcap emission through the polarization of the excitation light in triads with bent oligomer backbones. Bending leads to increased localization so that the molecule acquires bichromophoric characteristics in terms of its fluorescence photon statistics.
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27
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Vandenberk N, Barth A, Borrenberghs D, Hofkens J, Hendrix J. Evaluation of Blue and Far-Red Dye Pairs in Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Experiments. J Phys Chem B 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Niels Vandenberk
- Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anders Barth
- Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Nanosystems Initiative Munich and Centre for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Doortje Borrenberghs
- Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Hendrix
- Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Dynamic Bioimaging Lab, Advanced Optical Microscopy Centre and Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan C (BIOMED), Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium
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28
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Eder T, Stangl T, Gmelch M, Remmerssen K, Laux D, Höger S, Lupton JM, Vogelsang J. Switching between H- and J-type electronic coupling in single conjugated polymer aggregates. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1641. [PMID: 29158508 PMCID: PMC5696370 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01773-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of conjugated polymers and electronic coupling of chromophores play a central role in the fundamental understanding of light and charge generation processes. Here we report that the predominant coupling in isolated aggregates of conjugated polymers can be switched reversibly between H-type and J-type coupling by partially swelling and drying the aggregates. Aggregation is identified by shifts in photoluminescence energy, changes in vibronic peak ratio, and photoluminescence lifetime. This experiment unravels the internal electronic structure of the aggregate and highlights the importance of the drying process in the final spectroscopic properties. The electronic coupling after drying is tuned between H-type and J-type by changing the side chains of the conjugated polymer, but can also be entirely suppressed. The types of electronic coupling correlate with chain morphology, which is quantified by excitation polarization spectroscopy and the efficiency of interchromophoric energy transfer that is revealed by the degree of single-photon emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Eder
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Stangl
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Max Gmelch
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Klaas Remmerssen
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dirk Laux
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
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29
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Alarcos N, Cohen B, Ziółek M, Douhal A. Photochemistry and Photophysics in Silica-Based Materials: Ultrafast and Single Molecule Spectroscopy Observation. Chem Rev 2017; 117:13639-13720. [PMID: 29068670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Silica-based materials (SBMs) are widely used in catalysis, photonics, and drug delivery. Their pores and cavities act as hosts of diverse guests ranging from classical dyes to drugs and quantum dots, allowing changes in the photochemical behavior of the confined guests. The heterogeneity of the guest populations as well as the confinement provided by these hosts affect the behavior of the formed hybrid materials. As a consequence, the observed reaction dynamics becomes significantly different and complex. Studying their photobehavior requires advanced laser-based spectroscopy and microscopy techniques as well as computational methods. Thanks to the development of ultrafast (spectroscopy and imaging) tools, we are witnessing an increasing interest of the scientific community to explore the intimate photobehavior of these composites. Here, we review the recent theoretical and ultrafast experimental studies of their photodynamics and discuss the results in comparison to those in homogeneous media. The discussion of the confined dynamics includes solvation and intra- and intermolecular proton-, electron-, and energy transfer events of the guest within the SBMs. Several examples of applications in photocatalysis, (photo)sensors, photonics, photovoltaics, and drug delivery demonstrate the vast potential of the SBMs in modern science and technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemí Alarcos
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, and INAMOL, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Avenida Carlos III, S.N., 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Boiko Cohen
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, and INAMOL, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Avenida Carlos III, S.N., 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | - Marcin Ziółek
- Quantum Electronics Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University , Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Abderrazzak Douhal
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, and INAMOL, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Avenida Carlos III, S.N., 45071 Toledo, Spain
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30
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Kawai K, Miyata T, Shimada N, Ito S, Miyasaka H, Maruyama A. Single-Molecule Monitoring of the Structural Switching Dynamics of Nucleic Acids through Controlling Fluorescence Blinking. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:15329-15333. [PMID: 28990725 PMCID: PMC5725658 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201708705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a powerful tool to investigate the dynamics of biomolecular events in real time. However, it requires two fluorophores and can be applied only to dynamics that accompany large changes in distance between the molecules. Herein, we introduce a method for kinetic analysis based on control of fluorescence blinking (KACB), a general approach to investigate the dynamics of biomolecules by using a single fluorophore. By controlling the kinetics of the redox reaction the blinking kinetics or pattern can be controlled to be affected by microenvironmental changes around a fluorophore (rKACB), thereby enabling real-time single-molecule measurement of the structure-changing dynamics of nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyohiko Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan
| | - Takafumi Miyata
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Naohiko Shimada
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Syoji Ito
- Division of Frontier Materials Science and Center for Promotion of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 567-8531, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Miyasaka
- Division of Frontier Materials Science and Center for Promotion of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 567-8531, 226-8501, Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8501, Japan
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31
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Kawai K, Miyata T, Shimada N, Ito S, Miyasaka H, Maruyama A. Single-Molecule Monitoring of the Structural Switching Dynamics of Nucleic Acids through Controlling Fluorescence Blinking. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201708705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyohiko Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN); Osaka University; Mihogaoka 8-1 Ibaraki Osaka 567-0047 Japan
| | - Takafumi Miyata
- Department of Life Science and Technology; Tokyo Institute of Technology; 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta Midori-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa 226-8501 Japan
| | - Naohiko Shimada
- Department of Life Science and Technology; Tokyo Institute of Technology; 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta Midori-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa 226-8501 Japan
| | - Syoji Ito
- Division of Frontier Materials Science and Center for Promotion of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research; Graduate School of Engineering Science; Osaka University; Toyonaka, 567-8531 226-8501 Japan
| | - Hiroshi Miyasaka
- Division of Frontier Materials Science and Center for Promotion of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research; Graduate School of Engineering Science; Osaka University; Toyonaka, 567-8531 226-8501 Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Technology; Tokyo Institute of Technology; 4259 B-57 Nagatsuta Midori-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa 226-8501 Japan
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32
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Peulen TO, Opanasyuk O, Seidel CAM. Combining Graphical and Analytical Methods with Molecular Simulations To Analyze Time-Resolved FRET Measurements of Labeled Macromolecules Accurately. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:8211-8241. [PMID: 28709377 PMCID: PMC5592652 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b03441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Förster resonance energy transfer
(FRET) measurements from
a donor, D, to an acceptor, A, fluorophore are frequently used in vitro and in live cells to reveal information on the
structure and dynamics of DA labeled macromolecules. Accurate descriptions
of FRET measurements by molecular models are complicated because the
fluorophores are usually coupled to the macromolecule via flexible
long linkers allowing for diffusional exchange between multiple states
with different fluorescence properties caused by distinct environmental
quenching, dye mobilities, and variable DA distances. It is often
assumed for the analysis of fluorescence intensity decays that DA
distances and D quenching are uncorrelated (homogeneous quenching
by FRET) and that the exchange between distinct fluorophore states
is slow (quasistatic). This allows us to introduce the FRET-induced
donor decay, εD(t), a function solely
depending on the species fraction distribution of the rate constants
of energy transfer by FRET, for a convenient joint analysis of fluorescence
decays of FRET and reference samples by integrated graphical and analytical
procedures. Additionally, we developed a simulation toolkit to model
dye diffusion, fluorescence quenching by the protein surface, and
FRET. A benchmark study with simulated fluorescence decays of 500
protein structures demonstrates that the quasistatic homogeneous model
works very well and recovers for single conformations the average
DA distances with an accuracy of < 2%. For more complex
cases, where proteins adopt multiple conformations with significantly
different dye environments (heterogeneous case), we introduce a general
analysis framework and evaluate its power in resolving heterogeneities
in DA distances. The developed fast simulation methods, relying on
Brownian dynamics of a coarse-grained dye in its sterically accessible
volume, allow us to incorporate structural information in the decay
analysis for heterogeneous cases by relating dye states with protein
conformations to pave the way for fluorescence and FRET-based dynamic
structural biology. Finally, we present theories and simulations to
assess the accuracy and precision of steady-state and time-resolved
FRET measurements in resolving DA distances on the single-molecule
and ensemble level and provide a rigorous framework for estimating
approximation, systematic, and statistical errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas-Otavio Peulen
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität , Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oleg Opanasyuk
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität , Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Claus A M Seidel
- Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität , Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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33
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Steiner F, Lupton JM, Vogelsang J. Role of Triplet-State Shelving in Organic Photovoltaics: Single-Chain Aggregates of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) versus Mesoscopic Multichain Aggregates. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:9787-9790. [PMID: 28708387 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b04619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Triplet excitons have been the focus of considerable attention with regards to the functioning of polymer solar cells because these species are long-lived and quench subsequently generated singlet excitons in their vicinity. The role of triplets in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) has been investigated extensively with contrary conclusions regarding their importance. We probe the various roles triplets can play in P3HT by analyzing the photoluminescence (PL) from isolated single-chain aggregates and multichain mesoscopic aggregates. Solvent vapor annealing allows deterministic growth of P3HT aggregates consisting of ∼20 chains, which exhibit red-shifted and broadened PL compared to single-chain aggregates. The multichain aggregates exhibit a decrease of photon antibunching contrast compared to single-chain aggregates, implying rather weak interchain excitonic coupling and energy transfer. Nevertheless, the influence of triplet-quenching oxygen on PL and a photon correlation analysis of aggregate PL reveal that triplets are quenched by intermolecular interactions in the bulk state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Steiner
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg , Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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34
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Würsch D, May R, Wiederer G, Jester SS, Höger S, Vogelsang J, Lupton JM. Interactions between π-conjugated chromophores in a giant molecular spoked wheel. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:352-355. [PMID: 27929148 DOI: 10.1039/c6cc08396j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We discuss the intriguing photophysics of a giant molecular spoked wheel of π-conjugated arylene-alkynylene chromophores on the single-molecule level. This "molecular mesoscopic" structure, C1878H2682, shows fast switching between the 12 identical chromophores since the fluorescence is unpolarised but only one chromophore emits at a time.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Würsch
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - R May
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - G Wiederer
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - S-S Jester
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - S Höger
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - J Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - J M Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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35
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Controlling photophysical properties of ultrasmall conjugated polymer nanoparticles through polymer chain packing. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15256. [PMID: 28508857 PMCID: PMC5440812 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Applications of conjugated polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) for imaging and sensing depend on their size, fluorescence brightness and intraparticle energy transfer. The molecular design of conjugated polymers (CPs) has been the main focus of the development of Pdots. Here we demonstrate that proper control of the physical interactions between the chains is as critical as the molecular design. The unique design of twisted CPs and fine-tuning of the reprecipitation conditions allow us to fabricate ultrasmall (3.0–4.5 nm) Pdots with excellent photostability. Extensive photophysical and structural characterization reveals the essential role played by the packing of the polymer chains in the particles in the intraparticle spatial alignment of the emitting sites, which regulate the fluorescence brightness and the intraparticle energy migration efficiency. Our findings enhance understanding of the relationship between chain interactions and the photophysical properties of CP nanomaterials, providing a framework for designing and fabricating functional Pdots for imaging applications. Synthesis of small conjugated polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) with bright and stable fluorescence is an active challenge. Here, the authors introduce a strategy to fabricate ultrasmall Pdots with high fluorescence intensity by using twisted, rather than planar, conjugated polymers, lending new insight into the molecular design of Pdots.
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36
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Bera SC, Sanyal K, Senapati D, Mishra PP. Conformational Changes Followed by Complete Unzipping of DNA Double Helix by Charge-Tuned Gold Nanoparticles. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:4213-20. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b01323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Subhas C. Bera
- Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
| | - Kasturi Sanyal
- Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
| | - Dulal Senapati
- Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
| | - Padmaja P. Mishra
- Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
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37
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Kennes K, Baeten Y, Stappert S, Müllen K, Hofkens J, Van der Auweraer M, Vosch T, Fron E. Synthesis, Ensemble, and Single Molecule Characterization of a Diphenyl-Acetylene Linked Terrylenediimide Dimer. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:2333-42. [PMID: 26854818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b10651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and the photophysical characterization at the ensemble and single molecule level of a terrylenediimide (TDI) dimer are reported. The spectroscopic experimental data are compared with those obtained for the corresponding model compound TDI. Steady-state and ps time-correlated single photon counting have shown that both chromophores in the TDI dimer are in the weak coupling regime allowing their interaction by Förster resonance energy transfer. Femtosecond transient absorption experiments showed an excitation power dependence of the fluorescence decay, which could indicate the occurrence of singlet-singlet annihilation. Single molecule intensity traces were investigated for the TDI dimer and suggested two intensity levels. For both intensity levels several parameters among which emission maximum, fluorescence decay times, antibunching, blinking off-times and rate of dark state formation were compared. The blinking analysis revealed that the yield of dark state formation is an order of magnitude higher when the two chromophores are still active compared to the case where one is photobleached. The off-times remain however similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Kennes
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yannick Baeten
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian Stappert
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research , Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus Müllen
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research , Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark Van der Auweraer
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Vosch
- Nano-Science Center/Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen , Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eduard Fron
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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38
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Grußmayer KS, Steiner F, Lupton JM, Herten DP, Vogelsang J. Differentiation between Shallow and Deep Charge Trap States on Single Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Chains through Fluorescence Photon Statistics. Chemphyschem 2015; 16:3578-83. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201500719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin S. Grußmayer
- CellNetworks Cluster und Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut; Universität Heidelberg; Im Neuenheimer Feld 267 69210 Heidelberg Germany
| | - Florian Steiner
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik; Universität Regensburg; Universitätsstrasse 31 93053 Regensburg Germany
| | - John M. Lupton
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik; Universität Regensburg; Universitätsstrasse 31 93053 Regensburg Germany
| | - Dirk-Peter Herten
- CellNetworks Cluster und Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut; Universität Heidelberg; Im Neuenheimer Feld 267 69210 Heidelberg Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik; Universität Regensburg; Universitätsstrasse 31 93053 Regensburg Germany
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39
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Mesoscopic quantum emitters from deterministic aggregates of conjugated polymers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E5560-6. [PMID: 26417079 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1512582112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An appealing definition of the term "molecule" arises from consideration of the nature of fluorescence, with discrete molecular entities emitting a stream of single photons. We address the question of how large a molecular object may become by growing deterministic aggregates from single conjugated polymer chains. Even particles containing dozens of individual chains still behave as single quantum emitters due to efficient excitation energy transfer, whereas the brightness is raised due to the increased absorption cross-section of the suprastructure. Excitation energy can delocalize between individual polymer chromophores in these aggregates by both coherent and incoherent coupling, which are differentiated by their distinct spectroscopic fingerprints. Coherent coupling is identified by a 10-fold increase in excited-state lifetime and a corresponding spectral red shift. Exciton quenching due to incoherent FRET becomes more significant as aggregate size increases, resulting in single-aggregate emission characterized by strong blinking. This mesoscale approach allows us to identify intermolecular interactions which do not exist in isolated chains and are inaccessible in bulk films where they are present but masked by disorder.
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40
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Asano MS, Kagota D, Haque T, Koinuma M, Inagaki A, Nomura K. Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectra in the End-Functionalized Conjugated Triblock Copolymers Consisting of Poly(fluorene vinylene) and Oligo(phenylene vinylene): Proposal of Dynamical Distortion in the Excited State. Macromolecules 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b01084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Motoko S. Asano
- Division
of Molecular Science, School of Science and Engineering, Gunma University, 1-5-1,
Ten-jincho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0376, Japan
- Advanced
Catalytic Transformation for Carbon Utilization (ACT-C), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Daichi Kagota
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0376, Japan
| | - Tahmina Haque
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0376, Japan
| | - Misaki Koinuma
- Division
of Molecular Science, School of Science and Engineering, Gunma University, 1-5-1,
Ten-jincho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
| | - Akiko Inagaki
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0376, Japan
| | - Kotohiro Nomura
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 minami Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0376, Japan
- Advanced
Catalytic Transformation for Carbon Utilization (ACT-C), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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41
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Thiessen A, Würsch D, Jester SS, Aggarwal AV, Idelson A, Bange S, Vogelsang J, Höger S, Lupton JM. Exciton Localization in Extended π-Electron Systems: Comparison of Linear and Cyclic Structures. J Phys Chem B 2015; 119:9949-58. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b02091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Thiessen
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Dominik Würsch
- Institut
für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefan-S. Jester
- Kekulé-Institut
für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - A. Vikas Aggarwal
- Kekulé-Institut
für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Alissa Idelson
- Kekulé-Institut
für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bange
- Institut
für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- Institut
für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- Kekulé-Institut
für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - John M. Lupton
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Institut
für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
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42
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Schleifenbaum F, Kern AM, Konrad A, Meixner AJ. Dynamic control of Förster energy transfer in a photonic environment. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 16:12812-7. [PMID: 24840741 DOI: 10.1039/c4cp01306a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the effect of modified optical density of states on the rate of Förster resonant energy transfer between two closely-spaced chromophores is investigated. A model based on a system of coupled rate equations is derived to predict the influence of the environment on the molecular system. Due to the near-field character of Förster transfer, the corresponding rate constant is shown to be nearly independent of the optical mode density. An optical resonator can, however, effectively modify the donor and acceptor populations, leading to a dramatic change in the Förster transfer rate. Single-molecule measurements on the autofluorescent protein DsRed using a λ/2-microresonator are presented and compared to the theoretical model's predictions. The observed resonator-induced dequenching of the donor subunit in DsRed is accurately reproduced by the model, allowing a direct measurement of the Förster transfer rate in this otherwise inseparable multichromophoric system. With this accurate yet simple theoretical framework, new experiments can be conceived to measure normally obscured energy transfer channels in complex coupled quantum systems, e.g. in photovoltaics or light harvesting complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Schleifenbaum
- Universität Tübingen, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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43
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Stangl T, Wilhelm P, Schmitz D, Remmerssen K, Henzel S, Jester SS, Höger S, Vogelsang J, Lupton JM. Temporal Fluctuations in Excimer-Like Interactions between π-Conjugated Chromophores. J Phys Chem Lett 2015; 6:1321-1326. [PMID: 26263130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Inter- or intramolecular coupling processes between chromophores such as excimer formation or H- and J-aggregation are crucial to describing the photophysics of closely packed films of conjugated polymers. Such coupling is highly distance dependent and should be sensitive to both fluctuations in the spacing between chromophores as well as the actual position on the chromophore where the exciton localizes. Single-molecule spectroscopy reveals these intrinsic fluctuations in well-defined bichromophoric model systems of cofacial oligomers. Signatures of interchromophoric interactions in the excited state--spectral red shifting and broadening and a slowing of photoluminescence decay--correlate with each other but scatter strongly between single molecules, implying an extraordinary distribution in coupling strengths. Furthermore, these excimer-like spectral fingerprints vary with time, revealing intrinsic dynamics in the coupling strength within one single dimer molecule, which constitutes the starting point for describing a molecular solid. Such spectral sensitivity to sub-Ångström molecular dynamics could prove complementary to conventional FRET-based molecular rulers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stangl
- †Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Wilhelm
- †Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Schmitz
- ‡Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Klaas Remmerssen
- ‡Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Henzel
- ‡Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefan-S Jester
- ‡Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sigurd Höger
- ‡Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie der Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Vogelsang
- †Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - John M Lupton
- †Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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44
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Nettels D, Haenni D, Maillot S, Gueye M, Barth A, Hirschfeld V, Hübner CG, Léonard J, Schuler B. Excited-state annihilation reduces power dependence of single-molecule FRET experiments. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:32304-15. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp05321h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Singlet–singlet annihilation between FRET dyes is evident in nanosecond fluorescence cross-correlation measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Nettels
- Department of Biochemistry
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - Dominik Haenni
- Department of Biochemistry
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - Sacha Maillot
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg & Labex NIE
- Université de Strasbourg
- 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2
- France
| | - Moussa Gueye
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg & Labex NIE
- Université de Strasbourg
- 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2
- France
| | - Anders Barth
- Institute of Physics
- University of Lübeck
- 23562 Lübeck
- Germany
| | | | | | - Jérémie Léonard
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg & Labex NIE
- Université de Strasbourg
- 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2
- France
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry
- University of Zurich
- 8057 Zurich
- Switzerland
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45
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Tian Y, Halle J, Wojdyr M, Sahoo D, Scheblykin IG. Quantitative measurement of fluorescence brightness of single molecules. Methods Appl Fluoresc 2014; 2:035003. [DOI: 10.1088/2050-6120/2/3/035003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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46
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Diehl FP, Roos C, Duymaz A, Lunkenheimer B, Köhn A, Basché T. Emergence of Coherence through Variation of Intermolecular Distances in a Series of Molecular Dimers. J Phys Chem Lett 2014; 5:262-269. [PMID: 26270697 DOI: 10.1021/jz402512g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Quantum coherences between electronically excited molecules are a signature of entanglement and play an important role for energy transport in molecular assemblies. Here we monitor and analyze for a homologous series of molecular dimers embedded in a solid host the emergence of coherence with decreasing intermolecular distance by single-molecule spectroscopy and quantum chemistry. Coherent signatures appear as an enhancement of the purely electronic transitions in the dimers which is reflected by changes of fluorescence spectra and lifetimes. Effects that destroy the coherence are the coupling to the surroundings and to vibrational excitations. Complementary information is provided by excitation spectra from which the electronic coupling strengths were extracted and found to be in good agreement with calculated values. By revealing various signatures of intermolecular coherence, our results pave the way for the rational design of molecular systems with entangled states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian P Diehl
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Claudia Roos
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Adile Duymaz
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Bernd Lunkenheimer
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Köhn
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Basché
- Johannes Gutenberg-University, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
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47
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Photon Antibunching in Single Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy. SPRINGER SERIES ON FLUORESCENCE 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/4243_2014_71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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48
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Zang H, Routh PK, Alam R, Maye MM, Cotlet M. Core size dependent hole transfer from a photoexcited CdSe/ZnS quantum dot to a conductive polymer. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:5958-60. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc47975g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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49
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Abstract
The spectral breadth of conjugated polymers gives these materials a clear advantage over other molecular compounds for organic photovoltaic applications and is a key factor in recent efficiencies topping 10%. However, why do excitonic transitions, which are inherently narrow, lead to absorption over such a broad range of wavelengths in the first place? Using single-molecule spectroscopy, we address this fundamental question in a model material, poly(3-hexylthiophene). Narrow zero-phonon lines from single chromophores are found to scatter over 200 nm, an unprecedented inhomogeneous broadening that maps the ensemble. The giant red shift between solution and bulk films arises from energy transfer to the lowest-energy chromophores in collapsed polymer chains that adopt a highly ordered morphology. We propose that the extreme energetic disorder of chromophores is structural in origin. This structural disorder on the single-chromophore level may actually enable the high degree of polymer chain ordering found in bulk films: both structural order and disorder are crucial to materials physics in devices.
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50
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Vengris M, Larsen DS, Valkunas L, Kodis G, Herrero C, Gust D, Moore T, Moore A, van Grondelle R. Separating annihilation and excitation energy transfer dynamics in light harvesting systems. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:11372-82. [PMID: 23662680 DOI: 10.1021/jp403301c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The dependence of excitation energy transfer kinetics on the electronic state of the acceptor (ground vs excited) has been resolved with a novel multipulse prePump-Pump-Probe spectroscopy. The primary energy transfer and annihilation dynamics in two model light-harvesting systems were explored: an artificially synthesized carotenoid-zinc-phthalocyanine dyad and a naturally occurring light-harvesting peridinin-chlorophyll protein complex from Amphidinium carterae. Both systems use carotenoid as the primary excitation energy donor with porphyrin chromophores as the acceptor molecules. The prePump-Pump-Probe transient signals were analyzed with Monte Carlo modeling to explicitly address the underlying step-by-step kinetics involved in both excitation migration and annihilation processes. Both energy transfer and annihilation dynamics were demonstrated to occur with approximately the same rate in both systems, regardless of the excitation status of the acceptor pigments. The possible reasons for these observations are discussed in the framework of the Förster energy transfer model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikas Vengris
- Quantum Electronics Department, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University , Saulėtekio 9-III, 10222 Vilnius, Lithuania
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