Using single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy to study electron transfer.

Techniques in single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy now allow sophisticated studies of photophysical processes in single molecules. As interest grows in the possibilities of molecular electronics, researchers have begun to turn these techniques to the study of electron transfer. Electron-transfer reactions have now been detected and measured at the single-molecule level in a variety of systems and on a variety of timescales by adapting techniques from previous single-molecule fluorescence studies.     

Intermittent single-molecule interfacial electron transfer dynamics

We report on single-molecule studies of photosensitized interfacial electron transfer (ET) processes in Coumarin 343 (C343)-TiO(2) nanoparticles (NP) and Cresyl Violet (CV(+))-TiO(2) NP systems, using time-correlated single-photon counting coupled with scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence intensity trajectories of individual dye molecules adsorbed on a semiconductor NP surface showed fluorescence fluctuations and blinking, with time constants distributed from milliseconds to seconds. The fluorescence fluctuation dynamics were found to be inhomogeneous from molecule to molecule and from time to time, showing significant static and dynamic disorders in the interfacial ET reaction dynamics. We attribute fluorescence fluctuations to the interfacial ET reaction rate fluctuations, associating redox reactivity intermittency with the fluctuations of molecule-TiO(2) electronic and Franck-Condon coupling. Intermittent interfacial ET dynamics of individual molecules could be characteristic of a surface chemical reaction strongly involved with and regulated by molecule-surface interactions. The intermittent interfacial reaction dynamics that likely occur among single molecules in other interfacial and surface chemical processes can typically be observed by single-molecule studies but not by conventional ensemble-averaged experiments.     

Radical ion and triplet formation in electron transfer fluorescence quenching studied by nanosecond laser spectroscopy

Application of nanosecond laser flash photolysis led to the detection of delayed triplet production (from initially produced radical ions) in electron transfer fluorescence quenching. From both, the second order radical ion decay and the triplet growing-in, a diffusion-controlled recombination rate constant in acetonitrile of (4.3 ± 0.3) × 10¹⁰ M^?1 sec^?1 (ca. 1.2 × 10¹⁰ M^?1 in n-propanol) is obtained.     

Dye-exchange dynamics in micellar solutions studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

We investigated the dye-exchange dynamics between rhodamine 123 (R123), a mitochondrial fluorescent dye, and micelles as membrane mimetic systems. In the presence of neutral micelles (Triton X-100 and Brij 35) R123 partitions between the aqueous solution and the micellar pseudo-phase, undergoing red shift of the absorption and the emission spectra. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was used to study the dynamics of these systems over an extremely wide time range and at the single-molecule level, yielding information in one and the same experiment about the diffusional dynamics of free and bound rhodamine and about the dye-exchange dynamics as well as several photophysical properties of the rhodamine bound to the micelles. It was found that the entry rate constants are diffusion-controlled, indicating that there are no geometric or orientational requirements for the association of the dye with the micelle. With respect to the dye-exchange dynamics, micelles are found to behave as soft supramolecular cages in contrast to other rigid supramolecular cavities, such as cyclodextrins. The exit rate constants depend on the surfactant and determine the stability of the binding. Single-molecule multiparameter fluorescence detection (MFD) was used to examine the fluorescence properties of individual molecules in comparison to ensembles of molecules. The MFD histograms confirm the fast dye-exchange dynamics observed by FCS and yield mean values of fluorescence lifetimes and anisotropies in agreement with those obtained in bulk measurements.     

Subunit exchange of MjHsp16.5 studied by single-molecule imaging and fluorescence resonance energy transfer

MjHsp16.5 was separately labeled by fluorescent dye Cy3 and Cy5.5. The dissociation event of a single 24-mer MjHsp16.5 molecule was captured by single-molecule imaging (SMI). Temperature-regulated subunit exchange was revealed by the real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The combination of single-molecular statistics and kinetic parameters from FRET experiments leads to the conclusion that below 75 degrees C the rate-determining step of the subunit exchange was the dissociation of the dye-labeled 24-mer in which the dimer was intact, whereas above 75 degrees C, smaller units emerged in the exchange and the rate-determining step had the character of a bimolecular reaction.     

Protein structure and dynamics from single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer

The pros and cons of single-molecule vs ensemble-averaged fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments, performed on proteins, are explored with the help of Langevin dynamics simulations. An off-lattice model of the polypeptide chain is employed, which gives rise to a well-defined native state and two-state folding kinetics. A detailed analysis of the distribution of the donor-acceptor distance is presented at different points along the denaturation curve, along with its dependence on the averaging time window. We show that unique information on the correlation between structure and dynamics, which can only be obtained from single-molecule experiments, is contained in the correlation between the donor-acceptor distance and its displacement. The latter is shown to provide useful information on the free energy landscape of the protein, which is complementary to that obtained from the distribution of donor-acceptor distances.     

Interfacial electron transfer energetics studied by high spatial resolution tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopic imaging

Interfacial electron transfer (ET) in TiO?-based systems is important in artificial solar energy harvesting systems, catalysis, and in advanced oxidative waste water treatment. The fundamental importance of ET processes and impending applications make the study of interfacial ET a promising research area. Photoexcitation of dye molecules adsorbed on the surface of wide band gap semiconductors, such as TiO?, results in the injection of electrons from the dye molecules to the conduction band of the semiconductor or energetically accessible surface electronic states. Using Raman spectroscopy and ensemble-averaging approaches,t he chemical bonding and vibrational relaxation of the ET processes have been extensively studied. However, due to the complexity of the interfacial ET energetics and dynamics, significant questions remain on characterizing the source of the observed complexities. To address these important issues, we have applied advanced spectroscopic and imaging techniques such as confocal and tip-enhanced near-field Raman as well as photoluminescence spectroscopic and topographic imaging. Here we explore single surface states on TiO? as well as the interfacial electronic coupling of alizarin to TiO? single crystalline surfaces.     

Interaction between dendrons directly studied by single-molecule force spectroscopy

In this article, we have investigated the interaction between two poly(benzyl ether) dendrons directly by single-molecule force spectroscopy. For this purpose, one dendron was immobilized on an AFM tip through a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer, and the other dendron was anchored on a gold substrate as a self-assembled monolayer. Two dendrons approached and then interacted with each other when the AFM tip and the substrate moved close together. The rupture force between dendrons was measured while the AFM tip and the substrate separated. PEG as a flexible spacer can function as a length window for recognizing the force signals and avoiding the disturbance of the interaction between the AFM tip and the substrate. The interaction between two first-generation dendrons is measured to be about 224 pN at a force loading rate of 40 nN/s. The interaction between second- and first-generation dendrons rises to 315 pN at the same loading rate. Such interactions depend on the force loading rate in the range of several to hundreds of nanonewtons per second, indicating that the rupture between dendrons is a dynamic process. The study of the interaction between surface-bound dendrons of different generations provides a model system for understanding the surface adhesion of molecules with multiple branches. In addition, this multiple-branch molecule may be used to mimic the sticky feet of geckos as a man-made adhesive.     

Enhancing selectivity in spectrofluorimetric determination of tryptophan by using graphene oxide nanosheets

Reaction of formaldehyde with amino acids followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide to produce a fluorophore Norharman product is well known and was used for the spectrofluorimetric determination of l-tryptophan (Trp). This study aimed to use graphene oxide (GO) to enhance the selectivity and sensitivity of Trp in presence of other amino acids and possible interfering compounds. Different parameters such as pH, temperature, incubation time, and concentrations of formaldehyde, H₂O₂ and GO were studied to optimize the condition of determination. Experimental data showed that the maximum fluorescence intensity was achieved in pH 7.0–9.0 phosphate buffer mixed with 7–10% (v/v) formaldehyde and 1–2% (v/v) H₂O₂ as oxidizing agent at 60 ?C for 1 h. On the basis of calibration curve of various concentrations of Trp in the presence of 20 μg mL⁻¹ GO, the lower limit of detection (LOD) of Trp was determined as 0.092 nmol mL⁻¹ and the lower limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.3 nmol mL⁻¹. The selectivity of Trp in presence of other amino acids and possible interfering compounds were studied with and without GO. The data obtained after inner filter effect corrections revealed that the selectivity of Trp in presence of amino acids and other possible interfering agents was improved in the range of 76–96%, compared with that in absence of GO. The enhancement of selectivity in the presence of GO indicates that the Trp and other amino acid and possible interfering compounds were adsorbed by GO, and the selective uptaking of Trp-by the reaction with formaldehyde followed by oxidation with H₂O₂ at 60 ?C with high selectivity and sensitivity was achieved successfully.     

CO inner-shell excitation studied by electron impact spectroscopy

The inner-shell excitation and decay of the CO molecule have been studied in electron impact experiments. The dipole-forbidden transition (1sσ_c)⁻¹(2pπ) ³Π has been characterized by angular resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy and its decay via the measurement of resonant Auger spectra. The contribution of the (1sσ_c)⁻¹(2pπ) ³Π state to the CO resonant Auger spectrum in the region of the “spectator transitions” has been isolated and the population of CO⁺ quartet final states has been observed.     

Solvent influence on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in 3-hydroxychromone derivatives studied by cryogenic high-resolution fluorescence spectroscopy

High-resolution Shpol'skii spectra (recorded at 10 K in n-octane) of 3-hydroxychromone (3HC) substituted at the 2-position with a furan (3HC-F), a benzofuran (3HC-BF) or a naphthofuran group (3HC-NF) are presented. Being close analogues of 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF), these compounds can undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Luminescence can occur from the normal N* state (blue) or from the tautomeric T* state (green). Whether blue or green emission is observed is strongly dependent on hydrogen-bonding interactions with the environment. For all three chromones studied, high-resolution emission spectra in the green region (T*-->T) were obtained in pure n-octane, showing four sites with distinct emission bands and detailed vibrational structures, whereas no blue emission was detected. Contrary to the spectra published for 3HF, the emission lines were very narrow (line-broadening effects beyond detection) which implies that the ESIPT rate constants are >10(12) s(-1), at least 25 times lower than for 3HF. In order to study the effects of hydrogen-bonding solvents, four isomers of octanol (1-, 2-, 3- and 4-octanol) were added, forming 1:1 complexes with the 3HC derivatives. For all the combinations considered both blue and additional green emission was observed and in some cases narrow-banded spectra were obtained, mostly in the green. Only for the 3HC-NF/2-octanol complex, narrow-banded emission was found both in the blue and in the green region. It is demonstrated that these emissions come from different configurations of the complex. Possible structures for the two complex species are proposed, supported by semi-empirical calculations on complex formation enthalpies.     

Unfolding dynamics of cytochrome c revealed by single-molecule and ensemble-averaged spectroscopy

Denaturant-induced conformational change of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c (Cytc) has been comprehensively investigated in the single-molecule and bulk phases. By fluorescence-quenching experiments with dye-labelled heme-protein (Alexa 488-labelled Cytc, Cytc-A488), we clearly show that the fluorescence quenching observed from folded Cytc-A488 is due mainly to photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between electron-donating amino acids such as tryptophan and the dye attached to the protein. In addition, the unfolding process of Cytc-A488 observed in the single-molecule and bulk phases can be explained well in terms of a three-state model: Cytc unfolds through an intermediate with a native-like compactness. By quantitative analysis of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) data, we were able to observe a relaxation time of ～1.5 μs corresponding to segmental motion and fast folding dynamics of 55 μs in the unfolded state of Cytc. The results presented here also suggest that a combination of single-molecule and ensemble-averaged spectroscopy is necessary to provide convincing and comprehensive assignments of protein kinetics.     

Charge transport in luminescent polymers studied by in situ fluorescence spectroscopy

Modulation of the photoluminescence of poly-[2,7-(fluorene)-1,4-(phenylene)] can be attained by reversible electrochemical modification of the conjugated chain (p- or n-doping). Controlled injection of charge quenches the fluorescent emission of the conjugated polymer. The injection of holes completely eliminates the emission, while the electrons only quench up to one-third of the initial fluorescence of the polymer. Analogous quenching effects have been previously reported for solid-state organoelectronic devices. Electrochemical Stern-Volmer plots permit the estimation of the relative mobility of charge carriers in the polymer layer. The mobility of holes is 1 order of magnitude higher that the mobility of electrons, as determined by this method.     

Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution by graphene oxide nanosheets supported on sepiolite

Adsorptive behavior of uranium from aqueous solution on graphene oxide supported on sepiolite composites (GO@sepiolite composites) as a function of pH, ionic strength, temperature and initial uranium concentration was carried out by the batch techniques. GO@sepiolite composites was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and potentiometric acid–base titration. According to XRD patterns and SEM images, the graphene oxide nanosheets were grafted on sepiolite surface successfully. The macroscopic results showed that the adsorption of uranium on GO@sepiolite composites was significantly depended on pH, whereas no effect of ionic strength on uranium adsorption at high pH and high ionic strength conditions was observed. The uptake equilibrium is best described by Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacity (Q_e) of GO@sepiolite composites at pH 5.0 and T = 298 K were calculated to be 161.29 mg/g. Thermodynamic results indicated that the adsorption of uranium on GO@sepiolite composites is the spontaneous and exothermic process.     

Simultaneous removal of uranium and humic acid by cyclodextrin modified graphene oxide nanosheets

Cyclodextrin-modified graphene oxide nanosheets (denoted as CD/GO) were synthesized by an in-situ polymerization method and characterized by as well as Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and potentiometric acid-base titration. The characterization results indicated that CD was successfully grafted onto GO surfaces by forming a chemical bond. Mutual effects on the simultaneous removal of hexavalent uranium and humic acid by CD/GO from aqueous solution were investigated. The results indicated that U(VI) and humic acid (HA) sorption on CD/GO were greatly affected by pH and ionic strength. The presence of HA enhanced U(VI) sorption at low pH and reduced U(VI) sorption at high pH, whereas the presence of U(VI) enhanced HA sorption. The surface adsorbed HA acted as a “bridge” between U(VI) and CD/GO, and formed strong inner-sphere surface complexes with U(VI). Sorption isotherms of U(VI) or HA on CD/GO could be well fitted by the Langmuir model. This work highlights that CD/GO can be used as a promising material in the enrichment of U(VI) and HA from wastewater in U(VI) and humic substances obtained by environmental pollution cleanup.