Ultrafast Relaxation Processes of Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles in the Presence of Au Nanoparticles

Considering the importance of conjugated polymer nanoparticles, major emphasis has been given for designing and understanding the energy transfer and charge transfer processes of organic-inorganic hybrids for light harvesting applications. In the present study, we have designed an aqueous solution-based light harvesting system using conjugated polymer nanoparticles (poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene], MEH-PPV) and Au nanoparticles. The change in photo-induced processes in the presence of metal nanoparticles are studied by steady-state absorption, time-resolved emission, time-resolved fluorescence up-conversion, ultrafast anisotropy and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Global and target analysis of transient absorption data validate the creation of a collective delocalized state in polymer nanoparticles, and the time scale for excitation energy funnelling from S-1 state to low lying collective delocalized state (CLs) is 18 ps. Then, the electron transfer from the CLs state to Au NP occurs with a time constant of 150 ps. The 815 ps long lived charge transfer (CT) state signifies the charge transfer from the CLs state of polymer nanoparticles to Au NP. Such basic understanding of relaxation processes in hybrid systems is very important for designing inorganic-organic hybrid light-harvesting systems.