Argonne National Laboratory

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A new infrastructure: Moving energy on peptide nanofibers
Depiction of the peptide amphiphile
Depiction of the peptide amphiphile, PA (A) and the zinc porphyrin, ZnP (B, shown as both sticks and spheres) that comprise the doped nanofibers. Sheets are shown for high doping ratios of ZnP:PA (C,E,G) and low doping ratios (D,F,H). C and D highlight the relative ZnP packing and E and F illustrate the variation in ZnP spacing. G and H highlight the fiber cross sections.

Scientific achievement

This unique framework allows study of energy transport in a synthetic photosynthesis process using a self-assembling peptide-amphiphile (PA) molecule as a scaffold for Zn-porphyrin (ZnP) chromophores.

Significance and impact

Low ratios of ZnP:PA increase spacing in the molecule and improve exciton diffusion, thus linking a controllable parameter to improved light-harvesting capabilities.

Depiction of the peptide amphiphile

Research details

  • We created samples at the Center for Nanoscale Material (CNM) with varying ratios of ZnP to PA, analyzed all samples with multiple spectroscopy techniques, and studied the exciton diffusion process.
  • This study used CNM capabilities: UV/vis, circular dichroism, and electron microscopy as well as time-resolved photoluminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy.

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b03867

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