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Efficient cavity-mediated energy transfer between photosynthetic light harvesting complexes from strong to weak coupling regime

Wu, Fan LU ; Nguyen- Phan, Tu C. ; Cogdell, Richard and Pullerits, Tönu LU (2025) In Nature Communications 16(1).
Abstract

Excitation energy transfer between photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes is vital for highly efficient primary photosynthesis. Controlling this process is the key for advancing the emerging artificial photosynthetic systems. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the enhanced excitation energy transfer between photosynthetic light-harvesting 2 complexes (LH2) mediated through the Fabry-Pérot optical microcavity. Using intensity-dependent pump-probe spectroscopy, we analyse the exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) due to inter-LH2 energy transfer. Comparing EEA in LH2 within cavity samples and the bare LH2 films, we observe enhanced EEA in cavities indicating improved excitation energy transfer via coupling to a common cavity mode.... (More)

Excitation energy transfer between photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes is vital for highly efficient primary photosynthesis. Controlling this process is the key for advancing the emerging artificial photosynthetic systems. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the enhanced excitation energy transfer between photosynthetic light-harvesting 2 complexes (LH2) mediated through the Fabry-Pérot optical microcavity. Using intensity-dependent pump-probe spectroscopy, we analyse the exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) due to inter-LH2 energy transfer. Comparing EEA in LH2 within cavity samples and the bare LH2 films, we observe enhanced EEA in cavities indicating improved excitation energy transfer via coupling to a common cavity mode. Surprisingly, the effect remains even in the weak coupling regime. The enhancement is attributed to the additional connectivity between LH2s introduced by the resonant optical microcavity. Our results suggest that optical microcavities can be a strategic tool for modifying excitation energy transfer between molecular complexes, offering a promising approach towards efficient artificial light harvesting.

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; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Nature Communications
volume
16
issue
1
article number
5300
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:40506480
  • scopus:105007866671
ISSN
2041-1723
DOI
10.1038/s41467-025-60616-5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b82efd55-6d92-4346-aa05-0c8e197b0000
date added to LUP
2025-10-23 11:37:37
date last changed
2025-10-24 03:00:02
@article{b82efd55-6d92-4346-aa05-0c8e197b0000,
  abstract     = {{<p>Excitation energy transfer between photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes is vital for highly efficient primary photosynthesis. Controlling this process is the key for advancing the emerging artificial photosynthetic systems. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the enhanced excitation energy transfer between photosynthetic light-harvesting 2 complexes (LH2) mediated through the Fabry-Pérot optical microcavity. Using intensity-dependent pump-probe spectroscopy, we analyse the exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) due to inter-LH2 energy transfer. Comparing EEA in LH2 within cavity samples and the bare LH2 films, we observe enhanced EEA in cavities indicating improved excitation energy transfer via coupling to a common cavity mode. Surprisingly, the effect remains even in the weak coupling regime. The enhancement is attributed to the additional connectivity between LH2s introduced by the resonant optical microcavity. Our results suggest that optical microcavities can be a strategic tool for modifying excitation energy transfer between molecular complexes, offering a promising approach towards efficient artificial light harvesting.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wu, Fan and Nguyen- Phan, Tu C. and Cogdell, Richard and Pullerits, Tönu}},
  issn         = {{2041-1723}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Nature Communications}},
  title        = {{Efficient cavity-mediated energy transfer between photosynthetic light harvesting complexes from strong to weak coupling regime}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60616-5}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41467-025-60616-5}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}