The role of low-energy excited states in solar-energy capture

该项目旨在确定在大多数天然光合反应中心和光收集复合体中最低能量激发态的性质和作用。细菌反应中心的最低能量状态对其功能至关重要，并被用作人工有机太阳能捕获的范例，但对于大多数光系统来说，它们的性质仍然未知。该项目旨在回答为什么它们实际上没有阻止功能的关键问题。预计所获得的结果和开发的技术将与太阳能装置的设计直接相关。该项目将使用5个现有的、免费的和专门建造的光谱仪，以及量子电子和核模拟技术来识别和表征三个关键系统。

This project aims to determine the nature and role of the lowest-energy excited states in most natural photosynthetic reaction centres and light-harvesting complexes. The lowest-energy states of bacterial reaction centres are critical to function and are used as a paradigm in artificial organic solar-energy capture, but for most photosystems their nature remains unknown. The project aims to answer the critical question of why they do not actually prevent function. It is expected that both the outcomes obtained and techniques developed will be directly relevant to solar-energy device design. The project will apply five existing, complimentary and purposely built spectrometers as well as quantum electronic and nuclear simulation techniques to identify and characterise three key systems.