Admission requirements
Core course in MSc Chemistry – Energy & Sustainability, elective course MSc Chemistry, MSc Life Science and Technology
Students with a BSc in MST with a major in Chemistry/materials or BSc LST with a minor advanced LST are better prepared for the PC course. Other students with an equivalent BSc should have a basic knowledge in quantum chemistry (atomic s, p, d orbitals, molecular orbitals, meaning of the wave function), organic chemistry (covalent bond, pi systems and conjugation), inorganic chemistry (crystal field theory), chemical kinetics (1st and 2nd order rate laws, elementary processes, transition states), and biochemistry (structure of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids). A crash course in chemical kinetics and in electrochemistry is provided at the beginning of the course.
Description
Photochemistry studies the action of light on molecules. Understanding photochemistry allows for explaining light-driven phenomena occurring in nature such as vision or photosynthesis; to study cells, materials, or chemical reactions by using fluorophores, imaging agents, or time-dependent spectroscopy; and to develop synthetic light-responsive systems for curing diseases or making solar fuels. Photochemistry is governed by quantum chemistry, excited states, and orbitals. It spans 15 orders of magnitude of time scale range, from femtoseconds for photon absorption to minutes or hours for photoreactions or phosphorescence.
In the PC course basic photochemistry concepts such as excited state multiplicity, photoreaction and emission quantum efficiency, or excited state lifetimes, are first explained. Then, a range of different elementary processes that can follow molecule excitation, are described, including for example emission, non-radiative relaxation, and a range of photoreactions such as electron transfer, energy transfer, or ligand photosubstitution reactions.
Two lectures are dedicated to the theoretical modeling of excited states using quantum calculations and the theory of electron transfer (Marcus theory); a computer lab is organized to introduce the students in a practical manner to the representation and modeling of excited states. One course is dedicated to time-dependent spectroscopy for the study of photocatalytic and phototherapeutic compounds. Then, the principles of photoredox catalysis and their application for the sustainable production of solar fuels and artificial photosynthesis are discussed. Finally, the last part of the course is dedicated to the role of photochemistry in biology. This includes a short study of vision, followed by the description of Förster energy transfer probes for the study of biomolecules and biological processes. A special final lecture is dedicated to photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment, photoactivated chemotherapy, and optogenetics.
Course objectives
To understand the concept of excited state and to know the different methods available to represent them
To have an overview of the different elementary processes that can occur following photon absorption by a molecule
To be able to write the equation describing the kinetics of elementary photochemical processes (photon absorption, transition between excited states, 1st and 2nd order photoreaction)
To be able to retrieve or calculate quantum yields from experimental data
To understand double bond photoisomerization reactions and ligand photosubstitution reactions of transition metal complexes
To interpret time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy data
To know the different methods available to simulate excited states with computers
To understand energy transfer (Förster, Dexter)
To understand electron transfer (Marcus theory)
To have minimal knowledge about redox potentials in the ground and in the excited state
To understand charge recombination and how to minimize it
To understand photocatalytic reactions and mechanisms (oxidative vs. Reductive quenching)
To understand the basics concept of artifical photosynthesis and solar fuel production
To know how to study biological processes using photochemistry (bioimaging)
To know basic concepts for phototherapy and photopharmacology
To improve writing skills for a scientific report
Timetable
Schedule information can be found on the website of the programmes.
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of Instruction
Lectures, paper discussion, and exercise correction (14 sessions), and a computer lab (1 session)
Assessment method
Written examination (80%) and computer lab report (20%). This is valid also for the retake.
Reading list
The course is based on the slides discussed during the courses, videos of the courses available to all registered students, and exercises and old exams corrected together in class.
The following book is recommended: Vincenzo Balzani, Paola Ceroni, Alberto Juris (2014) Photochemistry and Photophysics, Concepts, Research, Application, Wiley VCH (ISBN: 978-3-527-33479-7).
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Dr. Sylvestre Bonnet, Dr. F. Buda
Remarks
Assignment deadlines are communicated via Brightspace.
According to OER article 4.8, students are entitled to view their marked examination for a period of 30 days following the publication of the results of a written examination. Students should contact the lecturer to make an appointment for such an inspection session.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.