"Topic : Excitation energy transfer in nanoscopic systems : From Conjugated Polymers to Metal Nanoparticles to Protins."

Abstract

Fouorescence (Forster) Resonance Energy Tracsfer (FRET) is often termed “Spectroscopic Ruler” as it allows optical spectroscopic methods to study dynamics and structure at different length scales ranging from 1 to 50 nm. This is a very important size range for nanoscopic studies in Chemistry, Biology and Materials Science. Most of the experimental studies employ the well-known Forster expression with 1/R^6 Separation (R) dependence between the donor and the acceptor. We shall discuss carious aspects of this dependence and its validity in real systems. We shall also discuss energy transfer from a dye to a metal nanoparticle and also between two metal nonoparticles. Lastly, I shall discuss some ecent studies of dielectric relaxation of water in protein hydration layers of 1-5 nm thick. These layers ane important in Nanobilogy in controlling strucrure and function of proteins and enzymes.