Facility Calendar

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2024

November

ChemPhysChem (IF=2.3)

Absence of the third linker domain of ApcE subunit in phycobilisome from Synechocystis 6803 reduces rods-to-core excitation energy transfer

D Niedzwiedzki, RS Tomar, F Akram, AM Williams, H Liu

(part of Physical Chemistry in North America” Special Collection, by invitation only)

Science Advances (IF=11.7)

Architecture and functional regulation of a plant PSII-LHCII megacomplex

J Shan, D Niedzwiedzki, T Tomar, Z Liu, H Liu

just accepted, link coming soon

October

Nano Research (IF=9.5)

Single-particle photoluminescence connects thermal processing with heterogeneity in the trap distribution of cesium lead bromide nanocrystals

D Wang, J Chen, D Zhang, DM Niedzwiedzki, RA Loomis, B Sadtler

50th Midwest Southeast Photosynthesis Conference

Photosynthesis Research (IF = 3.4)

Elucidating Light-Induced Changes in Excitation Energy Transfer of Photosystem I and II in Whole Cells of Two Model Cyanobacteria

Biswas S, Niedzwiedzki DM, Pakrasi H.

just accepted, link coming soon

September

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics (IF = 4.3)

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) complex from Heterocapsa pygmaea (HPPCP) (open access)

Schulte T, Magdaong NCM, Di Valentin M, Agostini A, Tait CE, Niedzwiedzki DM, Carbonera D, Hofmann E

August

Green Chemistry (IF = 9.3)

3D Structure-Functional Design of Biomass-derived Photocatalyst for Antimicrobial Efficacy and Chemical Degradation at Ambient Conditions

Wan Zhang, Yuanhao Liang, Cheng Hu, Weiwei Li, Jingru Lai, Kainan Chen, Sisi Xiang, Dariusz Niedzwiedzki, Jing Wu, Andrew Li, Susie Y. Dai

May

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics (IF = 4.3)

Altered excitation energy transfer between phycobilisome and photosystems in the absence of ApcG, a small linker peptide, in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a cyanobacterium

Rupal Singh Tomar , Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Haijun Liu

April

Findings from recent research project presented at 2024 Eastern Regional Photosynthesis Conference

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March

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (IF =9.5)

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2023 Research Summary

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October

Work performed at the facility was presented at 49^th Midwest Southeast Photosynthesis Conference

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September

Photosynthesis Research (IF=3.7)

Phylogenetic and spectroscopic insights on the evolution of core antenna proteins in cyanobacteria

Sandeep Biswas, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Michelle Liberton, Himadri B. Pakrasi

August

ACS Crystal Growth & Design (IF=3.8) (Nanocrystals Virtual Special Issue)

Synthesis of Ultrafine Aluminum-Rich Corundum

Austin Cendejas, Dariusz Niedzwiedzki, Elijah Thimsen

April

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics (IF = 4.428 )

Energy Dissipation Efficiency in the CP43 Assembly Intermediate Complex of Photosystem II

Sandeep Biswas, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Himadri Pakrasi

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Presentation at Conference

Project performed in the facility was presented at 23^rd Eastern Regional Photosynthesis Conference in Woods Hole MA on April 14-16 as poster titled: Structural Synergy and Assembly of Cyanobacterial Phycobilisome

Abstract (page 35) can be accessed form abstract book

February

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (IF = 6.888)

Transient “Cis-peak” Is Present in Excited State Absorption of Central-Cis-Isomers of Carotenoids

Dariusz M Niedzwiedzki

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January

Dr. Niedzwiedzki became Associate Editor for Photosynthesis and Photobiology section of Frontiers in Plant Science

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Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics (IF = 4.428 )

Mass spectrometry and spectroscopic characterization of a tetrameric photosystem I supercomplex from Leptolyngbya ohadii, a desiccation-tolerant cyanobacterium

Dariusz M Niedzwiedzki, Nikki Cecil M. Magdaong, Xinyang Su, Noam Adir, Nir Keren, Haijun Liu

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2022

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November

Journal of Physical Chemistry A (IF = 2.944)

Balancing Panchromatic Absorption and Multistep Charge Separation in a Compact Molecular Architecture

Arpita Roy, Nikki Cecil M. Magdaong, Haoyu Jing, Jie Rong, James R. Diers, Hyun Suk Kang, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Masahiko Taniguchi, Christine Kirmaier, Jonathan S. Lindsey, David F. Bocian, and Dewey Holten

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October

Our work was presented in poster format at 48th Midwest Southeast Photosynthesis Conference in Marshall, Indiana on Oct 28-30. The poster received “Best Poster” award. Congratulations to all!

HiDef poster pdf

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August

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July

Journal of Physical Chemistry A (IF = 2.944)

Evaluation of Photophysical Properties of Two Scintillators: Crystalline Para-terphenyl and Plastic-embedded 2,5-Diphenyloxazole Dye (EJ-276) at Room and Cryogenic Temperatures

Niedzwiedzki Dariusz, Mulrow Daniel,  Sobotka Lee G.

This work provides insight into the photophysical properties of two scintillators, crystalline para-terphenyl and EJ-276, a plastic heavily doped with 2,5-diphenyloxazole (DPO), utilized to differentiate gamma-ray and neutron induced signals. The photophysical properties of plastic embedded DPO are not substantially altered compared to those previously determined for this dye in solvents. The study of crystalline para-terphenyl suggests that a second phase called β, comprising more planar molecules, functions as a triplet trap and decreases the amount of delayed fluorescence relative to phosphorescence. The “main form” of the dye dominates absorption but all the emissive properties as fluorescence, phosphorescence, and delayed fluorescence, are dominated by the β-phase. Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption demonstrated that excitation from the main form of the para-terphenyl crystal is promptly transferred to the β-phase with a time constant of ~300 ps.

Journal of Physical Chemistry A (IF = 2.944)

Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Hydroporphyrin Dyads Exhibiting Strong Through-Space and Through-Bond Electronic Interactions

Roy Arpita, Diers James, Niedzwiedzki Dariusz, Meares  Adam, Yu Zhanqian, Viswanathan Bhagavathy Ganga, Satraitis Andrius, Kirmaier  Christine, Ptaszek  Marcin, Bocian David, Holten Dewey

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May

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics

(IF = 3.991 )

Introduction of cysteine-mediated quenching in the CP43 protein of Photosystem II builds resilience to high-light stress in a cyanobacterium

Sandeep Biswas, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Himadri Pakrasi

Among other studies we present series of spectroscopic investigations of isolated photosystem II (PSII) from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 mutant strain.  In the current work, we explore the impact of replacing valine 277 in inner antenna CP43 to a cysteine on growth, PSII activity and high-light tolerance. Comarison of spectroscopic analysis of isolated PSII from this mutant strain and wild type also suggests a delayed transfer of excitonic energy from CP43-associated chlorophyll a to PSII reaction center. The mutant also exhibits high-light tolerance and better growth under high light.  This previously unexplored strategy to engineer high-light tolerance could be a step further towards developing cyanobacterial cells as biofactories.

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March

Dyes and Pigments (IF = 4.889)

Excited-State Properties of Newly Sensitized Imidazole-Arylamine-Based Organic DSSC Sensitizers in Solvent and Adsorbed on TiO₂/FTO Support

Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Divya Unny, Ganapathi Rao Kandregula, Kothandaraman Ramanujam

This study evaluates six recently synthesized arylamine-imidazole combo dyes, utilized in dye-sensitized solar cells staining TiO₂ semiconductor. Studies were performed with application of steady-state and time-resolved absorption spectroscopies and were done on dyes dissolved in dichloromethane and anchored on TiO₂/FTO film support.  Excited state decay dynamics of individual compounds, time constants of dye-to-TiO₂ electron injection and subsequent recombination and dye regeneration dynamics were investigated. These studies were performed on bare dye/TiO₂/FTO photoanodes in air environment and, if possible, on the same samples with dye layer immersed in electrolyte solution.

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January

Journal of Physical Chemistry C (IF = 4.126)

Exciton Binding Energy of MAPbI₃ Thin Film Elucidated via Analysis and Modeling of Perovskite Absorption and Photoluminescence Properties Using Various Methodologies

Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Hao Zhou, Pratim Biswas

This work shows spectroscopic investigations of methylammonium lead iodide, MAPbI₃, perovskite thin film and focusces of deterination of exciton binding energy of the semiconductor via various approaches of modeling  of absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopic data collected in 150 – 293 K temperature range. These include application of modified versions of Elliott’s formula to reconstruct steady-state absorption of the semiconductor in the spectral range of the bandgap edge,application of numerous variations of Arrhenius equation to model temperature-induced broadening of the excitonic absorption band and temperature-dependent changes in intensity of photoluminescence emission spectra.

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2021

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September

Photochemistry and Photobiology (IF = 3.421)

Ability of the putative decomposition products of 2,3-dioxetanes of indoles to photosensitize cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) formation and its implications for the “dark” (chemisensitized) pathway to CPDs in melanocytes

Yanjing Wang, Elena M. Cacchillo, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, John-Stephen Taylor

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August

Journal of Physical Chemistry A (IF = 2.78)

Electronic Structure and Excited-State Dynamics of Rylene–Tetrapyrrole Panchromatic Absorbers.

Rong, Jie; Magdaong, Nikki Cecil; Taniguchi, Masahiko; Diers, James; Niedzwiedzki, Dariusz; Kirmaier, Christine; Lindsey, Jonathan; Bocian, David; Holten, Dewey

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July

Our latest paper published in PCCP (see update for May 2021) was selected to 2021 PCCP HOT Articles, collection of the hottest PCCP articles in 2021 (link here).

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May

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (IF = 3.43)

Spectroscopic Investigations of Electron and Hole Dynamics in MAPbBr3 Perovskite Film and Carrier Extraction to PEDOT Hole Transport Layer

Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Mojgan Kouhnavard, Yifan Diao, Julio M. D’Arcy and Pratim Biswas

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April

Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (IF = 1.816)

Conjugated-Linker Dependence of the Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Chlorin Dyads

Hyun Suk Kang, Andrius Satraitis, Adam Meares, Ganga Viswanathan Bhagavathy,James R. Diers, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Christine Kirmaier,Marcin Ptaszek, David F. Bocian, and Dewey Holten

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March

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (IF = 3.43)

Photophysical Properties of N719 and Z907 Dyes, Benchmark Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, at Room and Low Temperature

Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki

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February

mBio (open access) (IF = 6.784)

A Novel Mode of Photoprotection Mediated by a Cysteine Residue in the Chlorophyll Protein IsiA

Hui-Yuan Steven Chen, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Anindita Bandyopadhyay, Sandeep Biswas, Himadri B. Pakrasi

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January

Science Advances (IF = 13.116)

Structures of Rhodopseudomonas palustris RC-LH1 complexes with open or closed quinone channels

David J. K. Swainsbury, Pu Qian, Philip J. Jackson, Kaitlyn M. Faries, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Elizabeth C. Martin,  David A. Farmer,  Lorna A. Malone, Rebecca F. Thompson,  Neil A. Ranson,  Daniel P. Canniffe, Mark J. Dickman,  Dewey Holten,  Christine Kirmaier,  Andrew Hitchcock and  C. Neil Hunter

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2020

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September 2020

Journal of Physical Chemistry A; 124 (38) 7776–7794

Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Zinc(II) Porphyrins Bearing 0–4 meso-Phenyl Substituents: Zinc Porphine to Zinc Tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP)

Nikki Cecil M. Magdaong, Masahiko Taniguchi, James R. Diers, Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Christine Kirmaier, Jonathan S. Lindsey, David F. Bocian, Dewey Holten

August 2020

International Journal of Energy Research, in press

Performance enhancement of low temperature processed tin oxide as an electron transport layer for perovskite solar cells under ambient conditions

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May 2020

Journal of Physical Chemistry A; 124 (22) 4333–4344

Excited State Properties of Metal-Free (D2d and T-SB-C) and Ru-Based (N719 and Z907) Dyes and Photoinduced Charge Transfer Processes in FTO/TiCl₄/TiO₂/Dye Photoanodes Fabricated by Conventional Staining and Potential-Assisted Adsorption

Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki, Ganapathi Rao Kandregula, Jagadeeswari Sivanadanam and Kothandaraman Ramanujam

 

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March 2020

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2020; 117 (12) 6502-6508

 

A photosynthetic antenna complex foregoes unity carotenoid-to-bacteriochlorophyll energy transfer efficiency to ensure photoprotection

Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki,  David J. K. Swainsbury, Daniel P. Canniffe,  C. Neil Hunter, and Andrew Hitchcock

In WashU Engineering News:

https://engineering.wustl.edu/news/Pages/Carotenoids-play-role-in-regulating-light-harvesting.aspx?_ga=2.14822069.2049174263.1583942046-805564963.1568059992

In University of Sheffield News section:

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/mbb/news/photosynthetic_compromise-1.883841

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