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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records

Unraveling the mechanism of tip-enhanced molecular energy transfer

Electronic Energy Transfer (EET) between chromophores is fundamental in many natural light-harvesting complexes, serving as a critical step for solar energy funneling in photosynthetic plants and bacteria. The complicated role of the environment in mediating this process in natural architectures has been addressed by recent scanning tunneling microscope experiments involving EET between two molecules supported on a solid substrate. These measurements demonstrated that EET in such conditions has peculiar features, such as a steep dependence on the donor-acceptor distance, reminiscent of a short-range mechanism more than of a Förster-like process. By using state of the art hybrid ab initio/electromagnetic modeling, here we provide a comprehensive theoretical analysis of tip-enhanced EET. In particular, we show that this process can be understood as a complex interplay of electromagnetic-based molecular plasmonic processes, whose result may effectively mimic short range effects. Therefore, the established identification of an exponential decay with Dexter-like effects does not hold for tip-enhanced EET, and accurate electromagnetic modeling is needed to identify the EET mechanism.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Cyanobacteria dynamically regulate phycobilisome-to-photosystem excitation energy transfer

In cyanobacteria and red algae, the phycobilisome (PBS) absorbs light and transfers its energy to the chlorophylls in photosystems II (PSII) and I (PSI). With the help of target analysis of time-resolved emission spectra measured at room temperature (RT) and at 77 K, we establish a general kinetic scheme for excitation energy transfer (EET) and trapping based upon a PBS-PSII-PSI megacomplex. At RT it is found that in the dark-adapted cells (State II), the terminal emitter of PBS, allophycocyanin APC680, transfers energy to PSII and PSI with equal rates of ≈50 ns −1 , and that spillover from PSII to PSI is present with rate ≈6 ns −1 . At 77 K, upon transition from State I to State II the EET rate from APC680 to PSII is constant, whereas the rate to PSI increases by 67%. This indicates that a structural change in EET distance in the PBS-PSII-PSI megacomplex underlies the state transition.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Vibrational and Electronic Energy Transfer and Dissociation of Diatomic Molecules by Electron Collisions

At high altitudes and velocities equal to or greater than the geosynchronous return velocity (10 kilometers per second), the shock layer of a hypersonic flight will be in thermochemical nonequilibrium and partially ionized. The amount of ionization is determined by the velocity. For a trans atmospheric flight of 10 kilometers per second and at an altitude of 80 kilometers, a maximum of 1% ionization is expected. At a velocity of 12 - 17 kilometer per second, such as a Mars return mission, up to 30% of the atoms and molecules in the flow field will be ionized. Under those circumstances, electrons play an important role in determining the internal states of atoms and molecules in the flow field and hence the amount of radiative heat load and the distance it takes for the flow field to re-establish equilibrium. Electron collisions provide an effective means of transferring energy even when the electron number density is as low as 1%. Because the mass of an electron is 12,760 times smaller than the reduced mass of N2, its average speed, and hence its average collision frequency, is more than 100 times larger. Even in the slightly ionized regime with only 1% electrons, the frequency of electron-molecule collisions is equal to or larger than that of molecule-molecule collisions, an important consideration in the low density part of the atmosphere. Three electron-molecule collision processes relevant to hypersonic flows will be considered: (1) vibrational excitation/de-excitation of a diatomic molecule by electron impact, (2) electronic excitation/de-excitation, and (3) dissociative recombination in electron-diatomic ion collisions. A review of available data, both theory and experiment, will be given. Particular attention will be paid to tailoring the molecular physics to the condition of hypersonic flows. For example, the high rotational temperatures in a hypersonic flow field means that most experimental data carried out under room temperatures are not applicable. Also, the average electron temperature is expected to be between 10,000 and 20,000 K. Thus only data for low energy electrons are relevant to the model.

Huo, Winifred M.↗

Rotational Energy Transfer and Collisional Induced Raman Linewidths in N2 Gas: Energy Transfer Rates - 1

Rotationally inelastic transitions of N2 have been studied in the coupled state (CS) and infinite-order-sudden (IOS) approximations, using the N2-N2 rigidrotor potential of van der Avoird et al. For benchmarking purposes, close coupling (CC) calculations have also been carried out over a limited energy range. The CC and CS cross sections have been obtained both with and without identical molecule exchange symmetry, whereas exchange was neglected in the IOS calculations. The CS results track the CC cross sections rather well; between 113 - 219 cm(exp -1) the average deviation is 14%. Comparison between the CS and IOS cross sections at the high energy end of the CS calculation, 500 - 680 cm(exp -1), shows that IOS is sensitive to the amount of inelasticity and the results for large DELTA J transitions are subject to larger errors. It is found that the state-to-state cross sections with even and odd exchange symmetry agree to better than 2% and are well represented as a sum of direct and exchange cross sections for distinguishable molecules, an indication of the applicability of a classical treatment for this system. This result, however, does not apply to partial cross sections for given total J, but arises from a near cancellation in summing over partial waves. In order to use rigid-rotor results for the calculation of effective rotational excitation rates of N2 in the v=1 vibrational level colliding with bath N2 molecules in the v=0 level, it is assumed that exchange scattering between molecules in different vibrational levels is negligible and direct scattering is independent of Y. Good agreement with room temperature experimental data is obtained. The effective rates determined using the IOS and energy corrected sudden (ECS) approximations are also in reasonable agreement with experiment, with the ECS results being somewhat better. The problem with a degeneracy factor in earlier cross section expressions for collisions between identical molecules is pointed out and corrected.

Huo, Winifred M.↗

Nanoscale Imaging of Optical-Frequency Plasmonic Energy Transfer in Individual Nanoparticles and their Assemblies

The nonradiative transfer of energy from plasmonic metal nanostructures to their neighboring environments is a rapidly expanding research area because of its tremendous potential impact on photovoltaics and photocatalysis. Despite the significant progress achieved via optical spectroscopies, understanding the differing and competing energy transfer pathways available to these systems still presents a major challenge due to a lack of insight into their nanoscale optical responses. With the atom-scale spatial resolving power of the electron microscope and its ability to probe optical transitions, electron spectroscopies like EELS are uniquely suited for these challenges. Our proposal addressed STEM/EELS techniques (Camden) to directly measure and even control energy transfer pathways in hybrid plasmon-resonator systems and leveraged detailed theoretical models combined with simulation (Masiello) to understand the essential underlying physics. In particular, the outcome of our proposed studies deepened the fundamental understanding of how surface plasmons shed energy to their environment and the practical knowledge gained here will influence the design of future high-efficiency solar energy-harvesting devices and photocatalysts capable of operating throughout the visible and the infrared.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Altered excitation energy transfer between phycobilisome and photosystems in the absence of ApcG, a small linker peptide, in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a cyanobacterium

Phycobilisome (PBS) is a large pigment-protein complex in cyanobacteria and red algae responsible for capturing sunlight and transferring its energy to photosystems (PS). Spectroscopic and structural properties of various PBSs have been widely studied, however, the nature of so-called complex-complex interactions between PBS and PSs remains much less explored. In this work, we have investigated the function of a newly identified PBS linker protein, ApcG, some domain of which, together with a loop region (PB-loop in ApcE), is possibly located near the PBS-PS interface. Using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, we generated an ApcG deletion mutant and probed its deletion effect on the energetic coupling between PBS and photosystems. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic characterization of the purified ΔApcG-PBS demonstrated that ApcG removal weakly affects the photophysical properties of PBS that the spectroscopic properties of terminal energy emitters are comparable to those of PBS from wild-type. However, analysis of fluorescence decay imaging datasets reveals that ApcG deletion induces disruptions within the allophycocyanin (APC) core, resulting in the emergence (splitting) of two spectrally diverse subgroups with some short-lived APC. Profound spectroscopic changes of the whole ΔApcG mutant cell, however, emerge during state transition, a dynamic process of light scheme adaptation. The mutant cells in State I show a substantial increase in PBS-related fluorescence. On the other hand, global analysis of time-resolved fluorescence demonstrates that in general ApcG deletion does not alter or inhibit state transitions if it is interpreted only in terms of the changes of the PSII and PSI fluorescence emission intensity. Furthermore, the results revealed yet–to–be discovered mechanism of ApcG-docking induced excitation energy transfer regulation within PBS or to Photosystems.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

OGO-6 gas-surface energy transfer experiment

The kinetic energy flux of the upper atmosphere was analyzed using OGO-6 data. Energy transfer between 10 microwatts/sq cm and 0.1 W/sq cm was measured by short-term frequency changes of temperature-sensitive quartz crystals used in the energy transfer probe. The condition of the surfaces was continuously monitored by a quartz crystal microbalance to determine the effect surface contamination had on energy accommodation. Results are given on the computer analysis and laboratory tests performed to optimize the operation of the energy transfer probe. Data are also given on the bombardment of OGO-6 surfaces by high energy particles. The thermoelectrically-cooled quartz crystal microbalance is described in terms of its development and applications.

Mckeown, D.↗

Sub-100-fs energy transfer in coenzyme NADH is a coherent process assisted by a charge-transfer state

Excitation energy transfer (EET) is a key photoinduced process in biological chromophoric assemblies. Here we investigate the factors which can drive EET into efficient ultrafast sub-ps regimes. We demonstrate how a coherent transport of electronic population could facilitate this in water solvated NADH coenzyme and uncover the role of an intermediate dark charge-transfer state. High temporal resolution ultrafast optical spectroscopy gives a 54 ± 11 fs time constant for the EET process. Nonadiabatic quantum dynamical simulations computed through the time-evolution of multidimensional wavepackets suggest that the population transfer is mediated by photoexcited molecular vibrations due to strong coupling between the electronic states. The polar aqueous solvent environment leads to the active participation of a dark charge transfer state, accelerating the vibronically coherent EET process in favorably stacked conformers and solvent cavities. Our work demonstrates how the interplay of structural and environmental factors leads to diverse pathways for the EET process in flexible heterodimers and provides general insights relevant for coherent EET processes in stacked multichromophoric aggregates like DNA strands.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Energy transfer processes between Tm(3+) and Ho(3+) in LiYF4

The spectroscopic properties of the crystal LiYF4 doped with Thulium (Tm) and Holmium (Ho) ions are studied. The basic processes are discussed that regulate the transfer of energy between these two ions in this crystal. In this system Tm is considered the donor ion and the Ho the acceptor ion. Spectral data were obtained on three samples available: LiYF4:Tm(3+) (0.5 percent), LiYF4:Ho(3+) (1 percent), and LiYF4:Tm(3+) (5 percent), Ho(3+) (0.2 percent). Spectral data, which include absorption, luminescence, excitation, and the response to pulsed excitation in a wide range of temperatures, allowed to look at the energy transfer processes by considering the kinetic evolution of the emission of the two ions (donor and acceptor) involved in the process and the basic spectroscopic properties related to them. This inclusive approach has led to the validation of the physical model.

Oezen, Goenuel↗

On the localness of the spectral energy transfer in turbulence

Data for the energy transfer function are used to estimate the degree of localness of energy transfer in homogeneous turbulence. It is found that in regions where the energy which enters a wavenumber band is greater than the energy leaving, much of the energy entering the band is produced by wavenumbers an order of magnitude smaller. Thus for both low and high Reynolds numbers, spectral energy transfer is nonlocal. The tendency of the energy to jump between separated wavenumber regions agrees with the theory that turbulence forms concentrated regions of large velocity gradients. It is also felt that the universal equilibrium theory may be applicable if the Reynolds number of the turbulence is very high.

Deissler, R. G.↗

Local structure of intercomponent energy transfer in homogeneous turbulent shear flow

Intercomponent energy transfer by pressure-strain-rate was investigated for homogeneous turbulent shear flow. The rapid and slow parts of turbulent pressure (decomposed according to the influence of the mean deformation rate) are found to be uncorrelated; this finding provides strong justification for current modeling procedure in which the pressure-strain-rate term is split into the corresponding parts. Issues pertinent to scales involved in the intercomponent energy transfer are addressed in comparison with those for the Reynolds-stress and vorticity fields. A physical picture of the energy transfer process is described from a detailed study of instantaneous events of high transfer regions. It was found that the most significant intercomponent energy transfer events are highly localized in space and are imbedded within a region of concentrated vorticity.

Brasseur, James G.↗

Excitation-Dependent High-Lying Excitonic Exchange via Interlayer Energy Transfer from Lower - to - Higher Bandgap 2D Material

High light absorption (~15%) and strong photoluminescence (PL) emission in monolayer (1L) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) make them ideal candidates for optoelectronic device applications. Competing interlayer charge transfer (CT) and energy transfer (ET) processes control the photocarrier relaxation pathways in TMD heterostructures (HSs). In TMDs, long-distance ET can survive up to several tens of nm, unlike the CT process. Our experiment shows that an efficient ET occurs from the 1Ls WSe 2 -to-MoS 2 with an interlayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), due to the resonant overlapping of the high-lying excitonic states between the two TMDs, resulting in enhanced HS MoS 2 PL emission. This type of unconventional ET from the lower-to-higher optical bandgap material is not typical in the TMD HSs. With increasing temperature, the ET process becomes weaker due to the increased electron–phonon scattering, destroying the enhanced MoS 2 emission. Our work provides new insight into the long-distance ET process and its effect on the photocarrier relaxation pathways.

2D material↗

Plasmonic pathway to hybrid nanomaterials through energy transfer

Plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer (PIRET) is a promising approach for plasmonic photocatalysis and energy conversion, but challenges include elucidating the mechanism and maximizing its efficiency, both of which are hampered by competing processes. Another challenge is demonstrating that PIRET can photoinitiate reactions that follow efficient pathways compared to bulk processes. We report a plasmon-induced route to plasmonic-polymer hybrid nanomaterials using in operando single-particle spectroelectrochemistry. An energy transfer efficiency of 40% is achievable when the spectral overlap between gold nanorod scattering and polymer absorption is maximized. We also show that PIRET-initiated polymerization proceeds through a different mechanism than bulk polymerization, supported by spectroscopic evidence and density functional theory calculations, highlighting efficient energy cascading from photon to plasmon to exciton and, lastly, to unconventional light-initiated chemistry.

Oh, Hyuncheol [University of Illinois Urbana-Champ↗

Anisotropic Energy Transfer and Conversion in Magnetized Compressible Turbulence

We present a spatial filtering (or coarse-graining) analysis on 3D magnetized magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence simulations. The filtered compressible MHD formulae show transfer of kinetic and magnetic energies from large to small scales, as well as energy conversion between kinetic, magnetic, and thermal energies. The anisotropic filtering enables separate analyses of the energy flows perpendicular and parallel to the global mean magnetic field. Anisotropy in energy cascade is demonstrated by the larger perpendicular energy cascade rate and also the larger perpendicular wavenumbers associated with the peak energy transfer rate. We also find that the “inertial range” along the parallel (perpendicular) direction in the anisotropic energy cascade formulation is no longer strictly dissipation-free, because it includes the dissipation in the perpendicular (parallel) direction. A change in the driving force (kinetic only versus kinetic and magnetic) affects the energy conversion between kinetic and magnetic energies. While the compressibility of the driving force changes the partition of different channels of energy transfer and conversion, and also increases the total energy transfer rate, the global energy flow remains unaffected by compressibility qualitatively. Our analysis can be applied to multispacecraft observations of turbulence in the solar wind or a planetary magnetosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Elucidating interprotein energy transfer dynamics within the antenna network from purple bacteria

In photosynthesis, absorbed light energy transfers through a network of antenna proteins with near-unity quantum efficiency to reach the reaction center, which initiates the downstream biochemical reactions. While the energy transfer dynamics within individual antenna proteins have been extensively studied over the past decades, the dynamics between the proteins are poorly understood due to the heterogeneous organization of the network. Previously reported timescales averaged over such heterogeneity, obscuring individual interprotein energy transfer steps. Here, we isolated and interrogated interprotein energy transfer by embedding two variants of the primary antenna protein from purple bacteria, light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2), together into a near-native membrane disc, known as a nanodisc. We integrated ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, quantum dynamics simulations, and cryogenic electron microscopy to determine interprotein energy transfer timescales. By varying the diameter of the nanodiscs, we replicated a range of distances between the proteins. The closest distance possible between neighboring LH2, which is the most common in native membranes, is 25 Å and resulted in a timescale of 5.7 ps. Larger distances of 28 to 31 Å resulted in timescales of 10 to 14 ps. Corresponding simulations showed that the fast energy transfer steps between closely spaced LH2 increase transport distances by ∼15%. Overall, our results introduce a framework for well-controlled studies of interprotein energy transfer dynamics and suggest that protein pairs serve as the primary pathway for the efficient transport of solar energy.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗