To provide students with an understanding of some key elements of the theory of photochemistry and their application to analytical techniques and solar energy conversion.

• The terminology of photochemistry. • The process of light absorption. • Polyatomic light absorption. • Absorption to emission 1: fluorescence, internal conversion and the singlet state. • Absorption to emission 2: phosphorescence, inter-system crossing and the triplet state. • Photochemistry-based analytical techniques (UV/vis and fluorescence • Photocatalysis

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: • Define various photochemical terms as contained in syllabus above. • Demonstrate knowledge of the competing processes that can occur after absorption of a photon by illustrating graphically the Jablonski diagram. • Describe the approximate mirror symmetry observed between absorption and fluorescence by applying the Franck-Condon principle and Kasha's rule. • For polyatomic absorption, distinguish between the allowed electronic transitions in carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen double bonds by reference to the overlap of molecular orbitals. • Describe the relationship between fluorescence, internal conversion and the singlet state. • Describe the relationship between phosphorescence, inter-system crossing and the triplet state. • Calculate the rate coefficients of the quenching of short-lived excited states from experimental data using the Stern-Volmer equation. • Apply the principals of photochemistry to interpret UV/vis and fluorescence spectra of polyatomic molecules. • Understand photocatalysis and the applications of photocatalysis

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: • To grasp the importance of comprehending key concepts associated with photochemistry rather than mere reliance on rote learning / memory work.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: • To demonstrate the ability and skills in carrying out essential experiments relevant to photochemistry.

This module will taught over a 12 week period through a formal interactive teaching mode (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial). Students will undertake 6 x 3 hour laboratory experiments associated with lecture material. The module will be assessed by an end-of-semester written exam (70% of final marks); students will record their laboratory work in a written report for each experiment (30% of final marks).