Efficient Energy Transfer between Confined Dye and Y-Zeolite Functionalized Au Nanoparticles

A new optical-based nanostructured materials having coumarin 480 dye confined within Y-zeolite and Y-zeolite functionalized Au nanoparticles has been designed for light-harvesting system. Unprecedented PL quenching (94%) of confined dye and efficient energy transfer (70%) between confined dye and Au nanoparticles are obtained. The enhanced fluorescence and large blue shift (9 nm) in the emission maximum of C480 in zeolite confirm the confinement of the probe dye molecules inside the zeolite cavity. The anisotropy study reveals that this type of supramolecular organization of the dyes inside the zeolite channels will allow light harvesting. Such nanostructured materials could be useful for efficient light-harvesting or chemical-sensing applications.