Resonance energy transfer in self-organized organic/inorganic dendrite structures

Hybrid materials formed by semiconductor quantum dots and J-aggregates of cyanine dyes provide a unique combination of enhanced absorption in inorganic constituents with large oscillator strength and extremely narrow exciton bands of the organic component. The optical properties of dendrite structures with fractal dimension 1.7-1.8, formed from J-aggregates integrated with CdTe quantum dots (QDs), have been investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Our results demonstrate that (i) J-aggregates are coupled to QDs by Förster-type resonant energy transfer and (ii) there are energy fluxes from the periphery to the centre of the structure, where the QD density is higher than in the periphery of the dendrite. Such an anisotropic energy transport can be only observed when dendrites are formed from QDs integrated with J-aggregates. These QD/J-aggregate hybrid systems can have applications in light harvesting systems and optical sensors with extended absorption spectra. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.Fil: Melnikau, D.. Cic Nanogune Consolider; España. Donostia International Physics Center; EspañaFil: Savateeva, D.. Donostia International Physics Center; EspañaFil: Lesnyak, V.. Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia; ItaliaFil: Gaponik, N.. Technische Universitat Dresden; AlemaniaFil: Núñez Fernández, Yuriel. Universidade Do Minho; PortugalFil: Vasilevskiy, M.I.. Universidade Do Minho; PortugalFil: Costa, M. F.. Universidade Do Minho; PortugalFil: Mochalov, K. E.. National Research Nuclear University Mephi; Rusia. Shemyakin And Ovchinnikov Institute Of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy Of Sciences; RusiaFil: Oleinikov, V.. Shemyakin And Ovchinnikov Institute Of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy Of Sciences; Rusia. National Research Nuclear University Mephi; RusiaFil: Rakovich, Y. P.. Donostia International Physics Center; España. Ikerbasque, The Basque Foundation For Science; Españ