Energy transfer between adsorbates by means of surface plasmons

Abstract

Nonradiative electron excitation energy transfer between the molecules adsorbed by the plane conducting surface is investigated. It is demonstrated that the mechanism with participation of surface plasmons can be efficient for energy transfer in such system. A dependence of the energy transfer rate in the donor-acceptor adsorbate pair on the distance and anisotropy parameters is established. The efficiencies of the direct dipoledipole and plasmon channels of energy transfer are compared. The dominating (exceeding by 1–2 orders of magnitude the energy transfer rate in a system without conducting bodies) contribution of the plasmon mechanism to the total energy transfer rate is detected when molecules are close to the metal surface.