Absorption Enhancement in Peridinin–Chlorophyll–Protein Light-Harvesting Complexes Coupled to Semicontinuous Silver Film

We report on experimental and theoretical studies of plasmon-induced effects in a hybrid nanostructure composed of light-harvesting complexes and metallic nanoparticles in the form of semicontinuous silver film. The results of continuous-wave and time-resolved spectroscopy indicate that absorption of the light-harvesting complexes is strongly enhanced upon coupling with the metallic film spaced by 25 nm of a dielectric silica layer. This conclusion is corroborated by modeling, which confirms the morphology of the silver island film

From visible to white-light emission by siloxane-capped ZnO quantum dots upon interaction with thiols

International audienceThe interaction of thiols (glutathione, cysteine, and cysteamine) with yellow-emitting siloxane-capped ZnO QDs was studied. A gradual enlargement of the PL emission band resulting in white-light emission was observed upon reaction with thiols, while the diameter (ca. 4 nm) and the crystallinity of the dots were not affected. The appearance of broad white-emission was accompanied by a decrease of the photoluminescence quantum yield from 16% to 5-6%. Generation of surface defect states through interaction of the thiols with Zn surface atoms of the dots provoking shrunk of the siloxane capping may be responsible of that broadband emission throughout most of the light spectrum

Tip Enhancement of Upconversion Photoluminescence from Rare Earth Ion Doped Nanocrystals

We present tip-enhanced upconversion photoluminescence (PL) images of Er³⁺- and Yb³⁺-doped NaYF₄ nanocrystals on glass substrates with subdiffraction spatial resolution. Tip–sample distance dependent measurements clearly demonstrate the near-field origin of the image contrast. Time-resolved PL measurements show that the tip increases the spontaneous emission rate of the two emission channels of Er³⁺ in the visible region. Very efficient enhancement of upconversion PL is discussed in the context of the two-photon nature of the excitation process and homoenergy transfer between the ions within the nanocrystals. Comparison between different nanocrystals and tips shows a strong influence of the tip shape on the image contrast that becomes particularly relevant for the larger dimensions of the investigated nanocrystals