This much-needed textbook covers the spectrum from basic concepts of photochemistry and photophysics to selected examples of current applications and research.
Clearly structured, the first part of the text discusses the formation, properties and reactivity of excited states of inorganic and organic molecules as well as supramolecular species, as well as experimental techniques. The second part focusses on the photochemical and photophysical processes in nature and artificial systems, using a wealth of examples taken from applications in nature, industry and current research fields, and ranging from natural photosynthesis, photomedicine to polymerizations, photoprotection of materials, holography, luminescence sensors, energy conversion and storage and sustainability issues.
Written by an excellent author team combining scientific experience with didactical writing skills, this is the definitive answer to the needs of students, lecturers and researchers alike going into this interdisciplinary and fast growing field.

Vincenzo Balzani is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Bologna, Italy. His scientific activity is documented by five books and more than 550 papers in the fields of photochemistry, supramolecular chemistry, molecular machines, and solar energy conversion. His overall h-index is 87. The high international reputation of his studies and the appreciation for his innovative work is testified by vaious awards and the great number of invitations (more than 300) to present lectures and seminars all over the world.

Paola Ceroni is an associate professor at the University of Bologna. In 1998 she obtained her PhD degree in Chemical Sciences at the University of Bologna, after a period in the United States (Prof. Allen J. Bard's laboratory). Her PhD thesis was awarded by the Semerano prize from the Italian Chemical Society. Current research is focused on photochemistry and electrochemistry of molecular and supramolecular systems with particular emphasis towards photoactive dendrimers and nanomaterials. She is co-author of about 130 scientific papers. She is the principal investigator of an ERC Starting Grant for the development of hybrid materials for solar energy conversion.

Alberto Juris is former associate professor at the University of Bologna. His research activity concerned photochemistry and photophysics of mono- and polynuclear transition metal compounds, solar energy conversion processes, and luminescent sensors.

INTRODUCTION

PART 1 -
CONCEPTS

LIGHT AND MATTER
Nature of light
Structure of matter: atoms and molecules
Electronic orbitals, configurations and states: organic molecules and metal complexes

ELEMENTS OF ELECTRONIC SPECTOSCOPY
Wavefunctions and potential energy curves
Molecular level diagrams
Absorption
Emission
Radiationless deactivations

EXCITED STATE PROPERTIES
Lifetime, quantum yield and efficiency: competition between different pathways
Jablonski-type diagrams
Intramolecular reactions
Redox properties
Acid/base properties

QUENCHING AND SENSITIZATION PROCESSES IN MOLECULAR AND SUPRAMOLECULAR SPECIES
Kinetic aspects
Excimer and exciplexes
Energy transfer
Electron transfer
Proton transfer

PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
Photoreactions of organic molecules in solution
Photoreactions of metal complexes in solution
Photoreactions in the solid state
Photoreactions in the gas phase

PHOTOPHYSICAL PROCESSES
Excited state emission
Excited state absorption
Photophysics of semiconductors

EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES
Light sources
Absorption, emission and excitation spectra
Photochemical techniques
Absorption and emission spectra with polarized excitation
Time-resolved techniques based on luminescence
Transient absorption spectroscopy
Single molecule spectroscopy

PROBLEMS

PART 2 - LIGHT IN ACTION

LIGHT AND LIFE
Vision
Natural photosynthesis
Photoproduction of vitamin C
Phototoxicity and photoprotection
Photomedicine
Bioluminescence
Photocaged compounds

LIGHT IN INDUSTRY
Photopolymerization and photodegradation of polymers
Light for chemical synthesis
Image reproduction
Photoprotection of materials (dyes and pigments)
Optical brightners
Photochromism
Holography
Atmospheric pollution and environmental remediation (TiO2)
Luminescence sensors
Energy conversion and storage (solar cells, LED)
Cultural heritage

FRONTIERS OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY
Multiphotonic processes and multiple excitation
Photochemical solar energy conversion
Sustainable photochemistry
Information processing at the molecular level
Light -driven molecular devices and machines