Förster resonance energy transfer in quantum dot-dye-loaded zeolite L nanoassemblies

Nanoassemblies formed by coating a dye-loaded zeolite L surface with CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) is described. A photoinduced energy transfer is observed from the excited QDs, which are on the surface of the zeolite crystals, to dye molecules (energy acceptors) encapsulated and aligned in the 1D channels of the aluminosilicate host. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy and microscopy are used to quantify the Förster resonance energy transfer occurring through electronic transition dipole interactions between the QDs and the oxonine-loaded zeolite L crystals. For the first time the energy transfer in artificial antenna systems based on quantum dots and molecules hosted in inert systems is described. An assembly comprising dye molecules organized in unidimensional channels of a zeolite L with quantum dots decorating the surface of the zeolite is described. The good spectral overlap of the green-emitting luminescent quantum dots (donor) and the red-emitting oxonine dye molecules (acceptor) allows the efficient electronic energy transfer across several nanometers from the excited quantum dots to the dye molecules.