Hybrid system based on quantum dots and photosystem 2 core complex

We show that semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QD) can be used to increase the absorption capacity of pigment-protein complexes. In a mixture of photosystem 2 core complex (PS2) and QD, the fluorescence of the latter decreases several-fold due to the transfer of the absorbed energy to the PS2 core complex. We discuss Forster's inductive-resonance mechanism as a possible way of energy transfer in donor-acceptor pairs QD-PS2 core complex. Calculations based on the experimental data show that the enhancement of PS2 fluorescence and the rate of Q_A reduction increase up to 60% due to efficient energy migration from QD to PS2.