Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 2015-02-28

Energy transfer between amphiphilic porphyrin polymer shells and upconverting nanoparticle cores in water-dispersible nano-assemblies.

T Wu, S Kaur, N R Branda

Index: Org. Biomol. Chem. 13(8) , 2317-22, (2015)

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Abstract

The synthesis of water-dispersible nano-assemblies containing upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) and porphyrin molecules using a one-pot method is described. When the nano-assemblies are excited by 980 nm near-infrared light, the intensity of the 'green emission' band of the UCNP is reduced due to a combination of Föster Resonace Energy Transfer (FRET) and emission-reabsorption. This process is also responsible for the emission from the porphyrin chromophores despite the fact they do not absorb near-infrared light.