Abstract
Dendrimers (from the Greek dendros → tree; meros → part) are macromolecules with well-defined three-dimensional and tree-like structures. Remarkably, this hyperbranched architecture is one of the most ubiquitous, prolific, and recognizable natural patterns observed in nature. The rational design and the synthesis of highly functionalized architectures have been motivated by the need to mimic synthetic and natural-light-induced energy processes. Dendrimers offer an attractive material scaffold to generate innovative, technological, and functional materials because they provide a high amount of peripherally functional groups and void nanoreservoirs. Therefore, dendrimers emerge as excellent candidates since they can play a highly relevant role as unimolecular reactors at the nanoscale, acting as versatile and sophisticated entities. In particular, they can play a key role in the properties of light-energy harvesting and non-radiative energy transfer, allowing them to function as a whole unit. Remarkably, it is possible to promote the occurrence of the FRET phenomenon to concentrate the absorbed energy in photoactive centers. Finally, we think an in-depth understanding of this mechanism allows for diverse and prolific technological applications, such as imaging, biomedical therapy, and the conversion and storage of light energy, among others.
Highlights
The design and development of diverse technological strategies oriented to provide rational alternatives to address the current energy problems in a timely manner is a high-priority issue at present [1,2,3,4,5]
The fabrication of devices that allow for highly efficient exploitation of light energy is an aspect that remains largely unresolved [17,18,19]. Considering these backgrounds, the molecular design and the potentially adequate performance of photoactive environments emerge as promissory candidates that could play a key role in light-energy processing [20,21,22]
The design of this type of advanced materials makes it possible to manufacture multicompartmental nanoreactors and to use them as fluorescent tracers in biomedical applications for diagnostic therapies [173,174].In recent decades, the scientific and technological interest in mimicking or replicating, to some extent, the molecular-level arrangements that exist in nature for the capture of light energy has attracted considerable attention
Summary
The fabrication of devices that allow for highly efficient exploitation of light energy is an aspect that remains largely unresolved [17,18,19] Considering these backgrounds, the molecular design and the potentially adequate performance of photoactive environments emerge as promissory candidates that could play a key role in light-energy processing [20,21,22]. Numerous scientific efforts have been carried out to fabricate artificial systems that are more efficient in photo-induced processes by a complete understanding of related processes to energy transfer [27,28] In this context, dendrimer structures displaying unique architectures, such as regular and hierarchical branches with many functional end groups coming from a single core, are very interesting candidates for numerous technological applications (Figure 1) [29,30,31,32]. It is possible to depict the relevance of the advances focused on improving the efficiency of light-induced processes for energy transfer
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