Issue 47, 2021

Computational elucidations on the role of vibrations in energy transfer processes of photosynthetic complexes

Abstract

Coupling between pigment excitations and nuclear movements in photosynthetic complexes is known to modulate the excitation energy transfer (EET) efficiencies. Toward providing microscopic information, researchers often apply simulation techniques and investigate how vibrations are involved in EET processes. Here, reports on such roles of nuclear movements are discussed from a theory perspective. While vibrations naturally present random thermal fluctuations that can affect energy transferring characteristics, they can also be intertwined with exciton structures and create more specific non-adiabatic energy transfer pathways. For reliable simulations, a bath model that accurately mimics a given molecular system is required. Methods for obtaining such a model in combination with quantum chemical electronic structure calculations and molecular dynamics trajectory simulations are discussed. Various quantum dynamics simulation tools that can handle pigment-to-pigment energy transfers together with their vibrational characters are also touched on. Behaviors of molecular vibrations often deviate from ideality, especially when all-atom details are included, which practically forces us to treat them classically. We conclude this perspective by considering some recent reports that suggest that classical descriptions of bath effects with all-atom details may still produce valuable information for analyzing sophisticated contributions by vibrations to EET processes.

Graphical abstract: Computational elucidations on the role of vibrations in energy transfer processes of photosynthetic complexes

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
08 oct. 2021
Accepted
23 nov. 2021
First published
26 nov. 2021

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021,23, 26623-26639

Computational elucidations on the role of vibrations in energy transfer processes of photosynthetic complexes

K. H. Cho and Y. M. Rhee, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 26623 DOI: 10.1039/D1CP04615B

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