Abstract
The herein reported work describes the development of hierarchically-organized fluorescent nanomaterials inspired by plant antenna systems. These hybrid materials are based on nanostructured zeolitic materials (LTL zeolite) doped with laser dyes, which implies a synergism between organic and inorganic moieties. The non-interconnected channeled structure and pore dimensions (7.1 Å) of the inorganic host are ideal to order and align the allocated fluorophores inside, inferring also high thermal and chemical stability. These artificial antennae harvest a broad range of chromatic radiation and convert it into predominant red-edge or alternatively white-light emission, just choosing the right dye combination and concentration ratio to modulate the efficiency of the ongoing energy transfer hops. A further degree of organization can be achieved by functionalizing the channel entrances of LTL zeolite with specific tailor-made (stopcock) molecules via a covalent linkage. These molecules plug the channels to avoid the leakage of the guest molecules absorbed inside, as well as connect the inner space of the zeolite with the outside thanks to energy transfer processes, making the coupling of the material with external devices easier.
Highlights
The development of photoactive nanomaterials capable of mimicking the functions and mechanisms present in nature has become a major challenge for scientists of different fields [1,2,3].These systems show an incredibly high efficiency and perfection, which tempted the scientific community to simulate them by designing artificial systems that can further guarantee environmentally-friendly technological progress
The light is absorbed by antenna systems composed of a few hundred chlorophyll molecules embedded in a protein environment, which keeps the photoactive moieties well arranged and with the proper orientation to transfer the excitation energy efficiently to a specific reaction center [4,5]
Many efforts are being made to fully understand the complex process of photosynthesis, since it involves many other fundamental processes necessary for the proper performance of the complete system [6]. In this regard and taking inspiration from plant antenna systems, many imaginative attempts have been tested to build artificial luminescent antennae, among them self-assembled nanofibers [7], dendrimers [8], luminescent metal complexes [9], DNA nano-scaffolds [10], dyes embedded in polymer matrices [11] and host-guest hybrid systems [12]
Summary
The development of photoactive nanomaterials capable of mimicking the functions and mechanisms present in nature has become a major challenge for scientists of different fields [1,2,3] These systems show an incredibly high efficiency and perfection, which tempted the scientific community to simulate them by designing artificial systems that can further guarantee environmentally-friendly technological progress. Many efforts are being made to fully understand the complex process of photosynthesis, since it involves many other fundamental processes necessary for the proper performance of the complete system [6] In this regard and taking inspiration from plant antenna systems, many imaginative attempts have been tested to build artificial luminescent antennae, among them self-assembled nanofibers [7], dendrimers [8], luminescent metal complexes [9], DNA nano-scaffolds [10], dyes embedded in polymer matrices [11] and host-guest hybrid systems [12]
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