Study of light-harvesting antennae based on bacteriochlorophyll aggregates

Title: Study of light-harvesting antennae based on bacteriolorophyll aggregates Author: Jan Alster Department: Department of Chemical Physics and Optics Supervisor of the doctoral thesis: doc. RNDr. Jakub Pšenčík, Ph.D. Abstract: Artificial photosynthesis is a potential future source of renewable energy. e light-to-emical energy conversion process starts with capturing light. Chlorosomes of green phototropic bacteria are probably the most efficient light-harvesting antenna found in the Nature. Moreover, their unique structure based on a self-organised ag- gregate of pigment molecules makes them relatively easy to mimic in vitro. is work explores formation and properties of self-assembled aggregates of bacteriolorophyll molecules in aqueous solvents by means of steady state and time resolved optical spec- troscopy with time resolution in the microsecond to femtosecond range. Various ag- gregation inducing agents have been tested. Isoprenoid quinones introduce a redox- dependent excitation energy quening meanism into the bacteriolorophyll aggre- gates. Carotenoids enhance the light-harvesting properties of the aggregates by cap- turing light in the spectral region where bacteriolorophyll does not and transferring the excitation energy to bacteriolorophyll. e results indicate that self-assembled..