Exciton Transport in Individual Nanotubular J-Aggregates

本项目旨在通过光谱研究单个纳米管j聚集体作为模型光收集系统来研究超分子有机系统中的激子能量传输。菁染料如C8S3在水溶液中自组装形成直径为13纳米，长度为几微米的纳米管超分子组件。这些纳米管类似于绿硫细菌中天然光收集复合物的高效天线系统，因此作为研究准一维激子系统光收集的模型具有吸引力。这些j聚集体研究使用激光光谱学，近场扫描光学显微镜（NSOM）和共聚焦显微镜，允许探测单个纳米管的组合。此外，荧光成像用于直接测量单个纳米管聚集体的能量转移的空间范围，以了解超分子有机系统中的激子传输。该项目具有许多更广泛的社会影响：增加了从事化学研究的学生的数量和多样性，开发和传播了用于异质材料纳米级表征的工具，分子电子学，以及扩大了对与利用太阳能有关的光收集的理解。教育方面的努力利用了UT-Austin的新生研究计划（FRI），该计划旨在将有能力的未被充分代表的学生群体带入研究实验室，否则这些学生可能不会将研究作为职业目标。该奖项由化学学部的大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目颁发，获奖者是德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的大卫·范登·布特。

This project targets the study of exciton energy transport in supramolecular organic systems by means of spectroscopic investigation of individual nanotubular J-aggregates used as a model light-harvesting system. Cyanine dyes such as C8S3 self-assemble in aqueous solution to form nanotubular supramolecular assemblies that are 13 nm in diameter and several microns in length. These nanotubes are similar to the highly efficient antenna systems of the natural light-harvesting complexes in Green Sulfur Bacteria and are thus attractive as a model for studying light harvesting in quasi-one-dimensional excitonic systems. These J-aggregates are studied using a combination of laser spectroscopy, near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), and confocal microscopy that allows probing of individual nanotubes. Additionally, fluorescence imaging is used to directly measure the spatial extent of energy transfer in individual nanotubular aggregates to understand exciton transport in supramolecular organic systems. The project has a number broader societal impacts: an increase in the number and diversity of students pursuing chemical research, the development and dissemination of tools for nanoscale characterization of heterogeneous materials, molecular electronics, and an expanded understanding of light harvesting as it pertains to harnessing solar energy. Educational efforts leverage the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI) at UT-Austin, a program designed to bring capable underrepresented student populations that might otherwise not chose research as a career goal into the research laboratories. This award is made by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry program of the Division of Chemistry and the recipient is David Vanden Bout of the University of Texas at Austin.