Organic Chemistry: Current Research
Open Access

DNA-based solar cells: Towards environmentally responsible approaches for solar light harvesting

2^nd International Conference on Past and Present Research Systems of Green Chemistry

September 14-16, 2015 Orlando, USA

Challa Vijaya Kumar

University of Connecticut, USA

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Organic Chem Curr Res

Abstract :

Solar light harvesting using green methods is a major current challenge. Our approach has been to use biological soft materials for this purpose. Toward this goal, we now report the self assembly and successful construction of DNA-based artificial light antenna systems that capture visible light from 350-600 nm and emit efficiently in the red region of the spectrum. Our strategy has been to self assemble protein-DNA complexes and then embed organic dyes in these biological matrices such that each dye molecule is self assembled in a pre-determined site in the protein-DNA complex. The dye-dye interactions are minimized and each dye is assembled as an isolated molecule in the protein-DNA matrix, yet each dye is able to efficiently transfer energy to other dyes. For example, four different kinds of donor-acceptor dyes have been assembled in these self-assembled matrices and these dyes undergo cascade-energy transfer from the highest energy donor to the lowest energy acceptor via two different jumper dyes. Thus, a 3-step energy cascade has been established with a very high overall efficiency. These are the very first 4-dye cascade systems and these are also the very first antennas that utilize protein-DNA assemblies for the antenna construction. Mechanistic studies show that multiple donor excited states are coupled with multiple acceptor states, thus promoting high efficiency energy transfer from the highest energy donor to the lowest energy acceptor via jumper dyes.

Biography :

Email: challa.kumar@uconn.edu