Static Disorder has Dynamic Impact on Energy Transport in Biomimetic Light-Harvesting Complexes

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06614
• Publication Date: 2022-10-03T19:13:35Z
• Authors: Leo M. Hamerlynck; Amanda J. Bischoff; Julia R. Rogers; Trevor D. Roberts; Jing Dai; Phillip L. Geissler; Matthew B. Francis; Naomi S. Ginsberg
• Keywords: Light energy

Despite extensive studies, many questions remain about what structural and energetic factors give rise to the remarkable energy transport efficiency of photosynthetic light-harvesting protein complexes, owing largely inability synthetically control such in these natural systems. Herein, we demonstrate transfer within a biomimetic complex consisting identical chromophores attached circular array scaffold derived from tobacco mosaic virus coat protein. We confirm capability by observing ultrafast depolarization transient absorption anisotropy measurements redshift time-resolved emission spectra complexes. Modeling system with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations recapitulates observed decays, suggesting an inter-site hopping rate as high 1.6 ps–1. With simulations, identify static disorder orientation, site energy, degree coupling key remaining achieve long-range thereby establish this highly promising, bottom-up model for studying