Surface energy transfer

Comparison of energy transfer efficiency between SET and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)

Surface energy transfer (SET) is a dipole-surface energy transfer process involving a metallic surface and a molecular dipole. ^[1]

Formula

The SET rate follows the inverse of the fourth power of the distance ^[2]

${\displaystyle k_{\text{SET}}={\frac {1}{\tau _{D}}}\left({\frac {d_{0}}{d}}\right)^{\!4}}$

where

• ⁠${\displaystyle \tau _{D}}$⁠ is the donor emission lifetime;
• ⁠${\displaystyle d}$⁠ is the distance between donor-acceptor;
• ⁠${\displaystyle d_{0}}$⁠ is the distance at which SET efficiency decreases to 50% (i.e., equal probability of energy transfer and spontaneous emission).

Efficiency

The energy transfer efficiency also follows a similar form

${\displaystyle \phi _{SET}={\frac {1}{1+({d}/{d_{0}})^{4}}}}$

Due to the fourth power dependence SET can cover a distance more than 15 nm, which is almost twice the efficiency of FRET. ^[3] Theoretically predicted in 1978 by Chance et al. it was proved experimentally in 2000s by different workers. ^[4]

Applications

The efficiency of SET as nanoruler has been used in live cells. ^[5]

Gold nano particles are frequently used in these studies as the nanoparticle surface.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• Dexter electron transfer
• Förster resonance energy transfer

References

1. Christopher J. Breshike; Ryan A. Riskowski & Geoffrey F. Strouse (2013). "Leaving Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Behind: Nanometal Surface Energy Transfer Predicts the Size-Enhanced Energy Coupling between a Metal Nanoparticle and an Emitting Dipole". J. Phys. Chem. C. 117 (45): 23942–23949. doi:10.1021/jp407259r.
2. C. S. Yun; et al. (2005). "Nanometal Surface Energy Transfer in Optical Rulers, Breaking the FRET Barrier". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127 (9): 3115–3119. Bibcode:2005JAChS.127.3115Y. doi:10.1021/ja043940i. PMID   15740151.
3. T. L. Jennings; M. P. Singh & G. F. Strouse (2006). "Fluorescent Lifetime Quenching near d = 1.5 nm Gold Nanoparticles: Probing NSET Validity". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128 (16): 5462–5467. Bibcode:2006JAChS.128.5462J. doi:10.1021/ja0583665. PMID   16620118.
4. R. Chance; A. Prock & R. Silbey (1978). Molecular Fluorescence and Energy Transfer Near Interfaces. Advances in Chemical Physics. Vol. 60. p. 1. doi:10.1002/9780470142561.ch1. ISBN   978-0-471-03459-9.
5. Yan Chen; et al. (2010). "A Surface Energy Transfer Nanoruler for Measuring Binding Site Distances on Live Cell Surfaces". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132 (46): 16559–16570. Bibcode:2010JAChS.13216559C. doi:10.1021/ja106360v. PMC   3059229 . PMID   21038856.