Photochemistry and Spectroscopy

The absorption of light to induce electronic transitions is one of the most fundamental and important processes in chemistry.

Photosynthesis exploits the photochemical conversion of light into chemical energy; colour perception derives the absorption and scattering of light of different wavelengths; all forms of luminescence derive from the relaxation of electronically excited states.

Our interests span the fundamentals of electronic spectroscopy and excited states to the photochemistry of metal complexes, dyads for photo-induced electron transfer, organic molecules, solid-state metal oxides and precursors to polysaccharides.

One of our great strengths is in-situ and time-resolved spectroscopies to study mechanisms and fundamental principles. Theory provides information about dynamics, the nature of reaction intermediates and of electronically excited states.

Our research has applications in solar fuels, photocatalysis, sunscreens, dyes, medicinal chemistry and catalysis.

Collaboration

Photochemistry and electronic spectroscopy are important themes that link researchers from across the Department of Chemistry and provide inspiration for collaborations with the Departments of Biology and Physics.

Staff

Name	Expertise
Lucy Carpenter	Atmospheric chemistry
Martin Cockett	High-resolution laser spectroscopy with electrons and ions
Caroline Dessent	Physical chemistry of gas-phase biological ions Gas-phase inorganic chemistry Mass spectrometry
Terry Dillon	Kinetics and photochemistry
Richard Douthwaite	Molecular and materials chemistry photocatalysis
Simon Duckett	Organometallic chemistry and reaction mechanisms
Anne Duhme-Klair	Metal ions in biology and medicine
Pete Edwards	Atmospheric chemistry
Ian Fairlamb	Transition metals in synthesis catalysis and chemical biology: reactivity, mechanism and applications
Meghan Halse	Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
Neil Hunt	Physical chemistry
Peter Karadakov	Modern valence-bond theory and chemical reactivity Ab initio calculation of NMR properties
Jason Lynam	Transition metal and main group chemistry
John Moore	Spectroscopy and photochemistry in solution
Robin Perutz	Organometallic photochemistry Small molecule activation Catalysis and solar fuels
William Unsworth	Synthetic chemistry macrocycles spirocycles natural products
Derek Wann	Electron diffraction

PhD projects

Explore the PhD projects currently offered by the Department of Chemistry.

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