URL study guide
https://tue.osiris-student.nl/onderwijscatalogus/extern/cursus?cursuscode=6EMA53&collegejaar=2025&taal=enDescription
The interaction of molecules with light is an essential aspect of the course. The quantum mechanical description of electronic states in molecules is addressed in the beginning of the course. This is followed by a description and analysis of absorption and emission as well as intermolecular photophysical processes such as energy and electron transfer. Practical aspects of fluorescence spectroscopy will be covered including fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence lifetime analysis. The use of dedicated dye molecules to probe dynamical and structural aspects of (bio-)molecular systems will be discussed.
Interactions between chromophoric groups will be analyzed in detail. Knowledge gained will be used to analyze collective photophysical behavior in molecular assemblies and aggregates. In particular the circular dichroism of multichromophore systems will be treated and applied in determination of their absolute chirality.
Elementary photophysical processes in optoelectronic devices such a light emitting diodes, solar cells, and artificial photosynthesis will be covered. These include phosphorescent dyes, exciton diffusion, singlet fission, triplet-triplet annihilation and thermally assisted delayed fluorescence. The charge-transfer interaction between electron-donor and electron-acceptor type molecules will be described and used to relate optical and electrical properties of charge-transfer compounds to the electrochemical properties of the donor and acceptor.
Finally important photophysical processes in living organisms will be discussed in relation to the structure of the chromophoric biomolecules. Photosynthesis and the chemistry of vision will be covered.
Extra information about the assessment
Students pass a study component by scoring 5.5 or higher on the examination.
Objectives
2. Knowledge of selection rules for radiative and nonradiative transitions between electronic states of molecules, in particular the decay of excited states. The student can calculate for small symmetric molecules the magnitude and direction of the transition dipole moment using symmetry operators and molecular orbitals. Using the selection rules, the student can assess the rate of elementary photophysical processes including fluorescence phosphorescence, intersystem crossing via spin-orbit interaction, intermolecular energy and electron transfer.
3. Understanding of the practical aspects of fluorescence spectroscopy including fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence lifetime measurements. Knowledge of the type of dye molecules that are used in fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy to probe specific dynamical and structural aspects of molecular systems.
4. Insight into the relation between the mutual orientation of a set of molecules and their collective photophysical properties in simple aggregates and in chiral multiple chromophore systems. The student is able to predict the circular polarization of exciton coupled systems of chromophores and analyze their circular dichroism spectra.
5. Knowledge of relevant photophysical processes of functional molecules in optoelectronic devices including light-emitting diodes and solar cells.
6. Insight in the photophysical process that operate in photosynthesis an in photochemistry of vision (cis-trans isomerization). The student is able to relate the processes in living with the theoretical description in the first part of the course. interaction between molecules in the excited state and collective optical photophysical properties in simple aggregates and chiral systems.