Enhanced Forster energy transfer in organic/inorganic bilayer optical microcavities

We present experimental evidence of enhancement of the Forster energy trans fer interaction in bilayer, optical microcavities incorporating CdSe nanocr ystals and an organic dye. On optical excitation of the nanocrystal layer, we observe luminescence predominantly at wavelengths associated with emissi on from the dye, indicating that energy transfer is taking place. No signif icant energy transfer is observed in the absence of the microcavity, nor in a microcavity where the dye and nanocrystal layers are separated by a 20 n m spacer layer. We estimate that the Forster transfer rate is increased by at least a factor of 10 in the microcavity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.