Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata and the S. N. Bose National Center for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) in Kolkata have developed a new method of harvesting artificial light using organic nanotubes. Inspired by natural photosynthetic systems, the researchers aimed to mimic the energy transfer processes found in plants and photosynthetic bacteria.
The team combined an organic fluorescent molecule called cyano stilbenes with a therapeutically important biopolymer called heparin to create nanotubes with bright greenish-yellow emission. These nanotubes acted as efficient energy donors, similar to the antenna chromophores in natural photosynthesis. They were able to donate energy to acceptor dyes, resulting in color tuning of the emitted light.
The energy transfer process observed in the study, known as Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), has significant applications in various fields such as DNA/RNA structure determination, mapping biological membranes, and real-time PCR tests. The ability to transfer energy efficiently is crucial for the conversion of solar energy into chemical or electrical energy for storage.
The formation of the nanotubes was investigated using spectroscopy techniques, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). Molecular dynamics simulation studies revealed the cylindrical structures formed by the cyano stilbene molecules in the presence of heparin. The simulation studies also provided insights into the molecular interactions and packing that led to the formation of the one-dimensional nanostructures.
Additionally, the temperature responsiveness of the FRET process in these systems allowed them to be used as ratiometric emission thermometers, which can sense temperature based on the variation in emission intensity at two different wavelengths.
The research, published in the journal Chemical Science, demonstrates the potential of these artificial light-harvesting systems for applications in solar cells, photocatalysis, optical sensors, and tunable multi-color light-emitting materials.
For more information, interested individuals can contact:
- Dr. Supratim Banerjee (supratim.banerjee@iiserkol.ac.in)
- Dr. Suman Chakrabarty (sumanc@bose.res.in)
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