Photophysical properties of hybrid complexes of quantum dots and reaction centers of purple photosynthetic bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides adsorbed on crystalline mesoporous TiO2 films

Abstract

Complexes of CdSe/ZnS and CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with proteins of reaction centers (RCs) of purple bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides have been obtained. An efficient energy transfer from QDs (a donor of electron excitation energy) to RCs (acceptor) is observed for them both in the solution and in the films of crystalline mesoporous titanium oxide. The design of such hybrid structures allows us to increase the absorptive ability of the RC many times and, respectively, increase the efficiency of the light energy conversion into the electrical potential. Such hybrid structures can be used for the development of high-performance solar cells.