Energy transfer in (bio)molecular systems

This thesis reports, using a variety of optical techniques, the energy transfer pathways in different potential building blocks for molecular electronic devices, namely an antenna, a molecular wire and fluorescent switches. Using pump-probe spectroscopy the time constants of these transfer processes were determined. In the future, the knowledge obtained by these studies can be used to design and build novel and/or improved molecular devices. Controlling energy transfer, as described in this thesis, will be a crucial design criterium when it comes to building a functional molecular device