Project Grant 2247589

This three-year, $575,000 National Science Foundation project grant supports research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill toward molecular control of cage escape yields in bimolecular photochemistry. Professor Gerald Meyer and his team will study photo-initiated electron transfer reactions between photosensitizers and quenchers to gain mechanistic insights that allow optimization and prediction of quantum yields. A focus on excited state electron transfer and charge recombination within photosensitizer-quencher "encounter complexes" seeks to understand factors controlling escape of desired products and cage escape yields. Through systematic electron transfer studies using transition metal and earth abundant photosensitizers paired with tailored electron donors and acceptors, the researchers aim to determine if photosensitizer or quencher structure tuning can impact the encounter complex and cage escape yield. Insights gained have potential to inform approaches in solar energy conversion and organic photoredox catalysis. Funded under the NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences program, this award supports the Foundation's mission to advance scientific progress through basic research.