Excitation dynamics in Photosystem I trapped in TiO2 mesopores

S. Szewczyk, R. Białek, W. Giera, G. Burdziński, R. van Grondelle, K. Gibasiewicz*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Excitation decay in closed Photosystem I (PSI) isolated from cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and dissolved in a buffer solution occurs predominantly with a ~ 24-ps lifetime, as measured both by time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption. The same PSI particles deposited in mesoporous matrix made of TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit significantly accelerated excitation decay dominated by a ~ 6-ps component. Target analysis indicates that this acceleration is caused by ~ 50% increase of the rate constant of bulk Chls excitation quenching. As an effect of this increase, as much as ~ 70% of bulk Chls excitation is quenched before the establishment of equilibrium with the red Chls. Accelerated quenching may be caused by increased excitation trapping by the reaction center and/or quenching properties of the TiO2 surface directly interacting with PSI Chls. Also properties of the PSI red Chls are affected by the deposition in the TiO2 matrix: they become deeper traps due to an increase of their number and their oscillator strength is significantly reduced. These effects should be taken into account when constructing solar cells’ photoelectrodes composed of PSI and artificial matrices.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)235-245
Number of pages11
JournalPhotosynthesis Research
Volume144
Issue number2
Early online date29 Feb 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2020

Funding

KG, SS, and RB gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Polish National Science Centre (Grant No. 2012/07/B/NZ1/02639 to KG).

FundersFunder number
Polish National Science Centre2012/07/B/NZ1/02639
Not added49229

    Keywords

    • Excitation dynamics
    • Photosystem I
    • Primary charge separation
    • Synechocystis
    • Target analysis
    • Time-resolved fluorescence
    • Transient absorption

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