Artificial light-harvesting systems based on the Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism

Abstract

One of the major global challenges lies in the efficient utilization of solar energy. Natural organisms primarily rely on photosynthesis to capture solar energy and store it as chemical energy, with light harvesting as a primary step. In natural light-harvesting systems, pigments are precisely arranged on a protein scaffold to create an energy gradient. Once a pigment absorbs a photon, the excitation energy is rapidly and efficiently transferred via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to a reaction center. The FRET mechanism is the cornerstone of highly efficient energy transduction in natural light-harvesting systems. Inspired by nature, a variety of structural scaffolds have been investigated to develop artificial light-harvesting systems (ALHSs) for harvesting, storing and utilizing solar energy. In this review, we summarize recent developments in the construction of ALHSs based on the FRET mechanism, highlight representative applications, and briefly discuss research prospects and challenges.