News & Events

When

Date - October 18, 2017
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

What

Ph.D. Literature Seminar – 751
Title: “Overview of the photophysics and photochemistry of Ru(II) coordination complexes”

Abstract:

Abstract:
Ruthenium(II) coordination complexes have been scrutinized over several decades for their potential in photovoltaics and solar energy conversion, catalysis, and photodynamic therapy. Much of this potential is based in early work governing electron transfer mechanisms as stimulated by light-molecular interactions. For researchers to design novel Ru(II) complexes for a specific application, a strong understanding of their ground and excited state electronic properties is required. Understanding the excited state dynamics of these compounds and competing relaxation pathways is key to unlocking their potential as photosensitizers in DSSCs and PDT. This talk will introduce basic concepts in Ru(II) photophysics and photochemistry focusing on three electronic configurations that tend to dominate excited state processes in these systems: metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT), metal-centered or ligand-field (MC or LF), and intraligand (IL). Several literature examples will be highlighted to demonstrate the photophysical profiles that are desirable for certain applications.