Ultrafast energy and charge transfer events dictate the functionality of a broad range of molecular, aggregate and nanomaterial systems. Impressive recent advances in the commercialisation of ultrafast laser technology and on many theoretical fronts, plus the societal emphasis on solar energy, have led to a surge of research in this community, encompassing spectroscopists, biophysicists, computational and theoretical chemists, physicists and materials scientists. Ambitions have evolved beyond studies of simple molecular systems, and increasingly focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms prevailing in nanomaterial, native protein and hybrid systems. Many working in this area share a common aim, to address and answer one of the most pressing issues currently facing the scientific community: the photophysics underlying efficient light capture, energy transport and efficient charge carrier generation, water splitting, photo-protection and photo-damage, proton transfer and/or molecular re-organisation.


This volume discusses the following themes:





Energy and charge-transfer in natural photosynthesis

Photovoltaics and bio-inspired light harvesting

Photo-induced electron transfer

Photo-protection/photo-damage in natural systems