Photoinduced energy transfer in ZnCdSeS quantum dot-phthalocyanines hybrids

In this article, interaction between ZnCdSeS quantum dot (QD) and phthalocyanines with variable linker has been reported. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic investigation reveals that only photoinduced energy transfer occurs from QD to phthalocyanines. To evaluate quantitatively the energy transfer, the Poisson statistics of QD-dye complex formation was used in the analysis of steady-state and time-resolved emission quenching, which allows to estimate the energy transfer rate constant for an ideal one-to-one complex. The measured rate constants are compared to the rates evaluated based on the classic Förster theory, which shows roughly 1 nm discrepancy in the energy transfer distance estimation, or one order in magnitude discrepancy in the transfer rate constants.S.M. is grateful to the TUT postdoctoral programme. T.T. is grateful for the financial support of the MINECO, Spain (CTQ2017-85393-P), the Comunidad de Madrid (FOTOCARBON, S2013/MIT-2841). IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the ‘Severo Ochoa’ Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, Grant SEV-2016-0686)