title: Large enhancement of nonlinear optical response in a hybrid nanobiomaterial consisting of bacteriorhodopsin and cadmium telluride quantum dots.
abstract: We report wavelength-dependent enormous enhancement of the nonlinear refractive index of wild-type bacteriorhodopsin in the presence of semiconductor quantum dots. The effect is strongest in the region just below the absorption edge of both constituents of this hybrid material and in samples that show strong Förster resonance energy transfer. We show that enhancements of up to 4000% can be achieved by controlled engineering of the hybrid structure involving variations of the molar ratio of the constituents. This new hybrid material with exceptional nonlinear properties will have numerous photonic and optoelectronic applications employing its photochromic, energy transfer, and conversion properties.
authors: School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. a.rakovich@imperial.ac.uk
authors: Aliaksandra
authors: A
authors: Rakovich
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Nabiev
authors: Alyona
authors: A
authors: Sukhanova
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Lesnyak
authors: Nikolai
authors: N
authors: Gaponik
authors: Yury P
authors: YP
authors: Rakovich
authors: John F
authors: JF
authors: Donegan
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013691:Tellurium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride