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Quantum coherence in photosynthesis for efficient solar-energy conversion

Romero, Elisabet ; Augulis, Ramunas LU ; Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I. ; Ferretti, Marco ; Thieme, Jos ; Zigmantas, Donatas LU orcid and van Grondelle, Rienk (2014) In Nature Physics 10(9). p.677-683
Abstract
The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in photosynthesis takes place in the reaction centre, where the absorbed excitation energy is converted into a stable charge-separated state by ultrafast electron transfer events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near-unity quantum efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of coherence in determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant photosystem II reaction centre by comprehensively combining experiment (two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (Redfield theory). We reveal the presence of electronic coherence between excitons as well as between exciton and charge-transfer states that we argue to be... (More)
The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in photosynthesis takes place in the reaction centre, where the absorbed excitation energy is converted into a stable charge-separated state by ultrafast electron transfer events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near-unity quantum efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of coherence in determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant photosystem II reaction centre by comprehensively combining experiment (two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (Redfield theory). We reveal the presence of electronic coherence between excitons as well as between exciton and charge-transfer states that we argue to be maintained by vibrational modes. Furthermore, we present evidence for the strong correlation between the degree of electronic coherence and efficient and ultrafast charge separation. We propose that this coherent mechanism will inspire the development of new energy technologies. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Nature Physics
volume
10
issue
9
pages
677 - 683
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • wos:000341820700023
  • scopus:84904083890
ISSN
1745-2473
DOI
10.1038/NPHYS3017
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Chemical Physics (S) (011001060)
id
1133f746-9842-4e14-bd49-cfe202a1e1ce (old id 4712920)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:49:09
date last changed
2023-11-09 04:20:26
@article{1133f746-9842-4e14-bd49-cfe202a1e1ce,
  abstract     = {{The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in photosynthesis takes place in the reaction centre, where the absorbed excitation energy is converted into a stable charge-separated state by ultrafast electron transfer events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near-unity quantum efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of coherence in determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant photosystem II reaction centre by comprehensively combining experiment (two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (Redfield theory). We reveal the presence of electronic coherence between excitons as well as between exciton and charge-transfer states that we argue to be maintained by vibrational modes. Furthermore, we present evidence for the strong correlation between the degree of electronic coherence and efficient and ultrafast charge separation. We propose that this coherent mechanism will inspire the development of new energy technologies.}},
  author       = {{Romero, Elisabet and Augulis, Ramunas and Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I. and Ferretti, Marco and Thieme, Jos and Zigmantas, Donatas and van Grondelle, Rienk}},
  issn         = {{1745-2473}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{677--683}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Nature Physics}},
  title        = {{Quantum coherence in photosynthesis for efficient solar-energy conversion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NPHYS3017}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/NPHYS3017}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}