Adv Polym Sci (2014) 260: 61–114
DOI: 10.1007/12_2013_231
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 6 November 2013
Optical Properties of Assemblies of Molecules
and Nanoparticles
Thomas Basche ´, Andreas Ko ¨hn, Ju ¨ rgen Gauss, Klaus Mu ¨ llen,
Harald Paulsen, and Rudolf Zentel
Abstract Organic dye molecules, colloidal semiconductor quantum dots, and lightharvesting complexes have been employed as optically active building blocks to
create complex molecular assemblies via covalent and non-covalent interactions.
Taking advantage of the chemical flexibility of the dye and quantum dot components,
as well as recombinant protein expression and the ordering capability of cholesteric
phases, specific optical function could be implemented. Photophysical phenomena
that have been addressed include light-harvesting, electronic excitation energy
transfer (EET), and lasing. Optical single-molecule experiments allow control of
energy transfer processes in individual molecular dyads and triads. Quantitative
insights into the mechanism of EET have been provided by combining the results
from single-molecule spectroscopy and quantum chemistry.
Keywords Cholesteric phases Á Energy transfer Á Fluorophores Á Light-harvesting
complex Á Organic dye molecules Á Quantum chemistry Á Semiconductor quantum
dots Á Single-molecule spectroscopy
T. Basche ´ (*), A. Ko ¨hn and J. Gauss
Institut fu ¨r Physikalische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita ¨t Mainz,
Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099 Mainz, Germany
e-mail: thomas.basche@uni-mainz.de
K. Mu ¨llen
Max Planck-Institut fu ¨r Polymerforschung, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
H. Paulsen
Institut fu ¨r Allgemeine Botanik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita ¨t Mainz, Mu ¨llerweg 6,
55099 Mainz, Germany
R. Zentel
Institut fu ¨r Organische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita ¨t Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14,
55099 Mainz, Germany
DOI: 10.1007/12_2013_231
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 6 November 2013
Optical Properties of Assemblies of Molecules
and Nanoparticles
Thomas Basche ´, Andreas Ko ¨hn, Ju ¨ rgen Gauss, Klaus Mu ¨ llen,
Harald Paulsen, and Rudolf Zentel
Abstract Organic dye molecules, colloidal semiconductor quantum dots, and lightharvesting complexes have been employed as optically active building blocks to
create complex molecular assemblies via covalent and non-covalent interactions.
Taking advantage of the chemical flexibility of the dye and quantum dot components,
as well as recombinant protein expression and the ordering capability of cholesteric
phases, specific optical function could be implemented. Photophysical phenomena
that have been addressed include light-harvesting, electronic excitation energy
transfer (EET), and lasing. Optical single-molecule experiments allow control of
energy transfer processes in individual molecular dyads and triads. Quantitative
insights into the mechanism of EET have been provided by combining the results
from single-molecule spectroscopy and quantum chemistry.
Keywords Cholesteric phases Á Energy transfer Á Fluorophores Á Light-harvesting
complex Á Organic dye molecules Á Quantum chemistry Á Semiconductor quantum
dots Á Single-molecule spectroscopy
T. Basche ´ (*), A. Ko ¨hn and J. Gauss
Institut fu ¨r Physikalische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita ¨t Mainz,
Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099 Mainz, Germany
e-mail: thomas.basche@uni-mainz.de
K. Mu ¨llen
Max Planck-Institut fu ¨r Polymerforschung, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
H. Paulsen
Institut fu ¨r Allgemeine Botanik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita ¨t Mainz, Mu ¨llerweg 6,
55099 Mainz, Germany
R. Zentel
Institut fu ¨r Organische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universita ¨t Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14,
55099 Mainz, Germany