Förster resonance energy transfer between single CdSe nanocrystals and an InP film

Abstract

It is well-known that the spontaneous emission of an excited fluorophore (donor) can be strongly modified by energy transfer (ET), resulting in a decrease of its photoluminescence (PL). Different interaction mechanisms are involved in resonant ET. In particular, resonant ET based on long range dipole-dipole interactions is referred to as Forster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) [1]. Radiative Energy Transfer (RET) occurs through the absorption by an acceptor of the photon emitted by the donor. Dexter et al [2] have treated the case of free electron-hole pairs created in a bulk semi-conductor by ET. But the transfer of the exciton energy to the electron-hole pair can occur through both RET and Nonradiative Energy Transfer (NRET). NRET is efficient within a few nanometers whereas RET can occur within several tens of nanometers.