Photodissociation

Photodissociation, photolysis, photodecomposition, or photofragmentation is a chemical reaction in which molecules of a chemical compound are broken down by absorption of light or photons. It is defined as the interaction of one or more photons with one target molecule that dissociates into two fragments.[1]

Here, “light” is broadly defined as radiation spanning the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV), ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. To break covalent bonds, photon energies corresponding to visible, UV, or VUV light are typically required, whereas IR photons may be sufficiently energetic to detach ligands from coordination complexes or to fragment supramolecular complexes.[2]

  1. ^ "Photochemical reaction - Photosensitization, Light Activation, Photoproducts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  2. ^ Vallance, Claire; Orr-Ewing, Andrew J. (2023-07-20). "Virtual Issue on Photodissociation: From Fundamental Dynamics and Spectroscopy to Photochemistry in Planetary Atmospheres and in Space". The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 127 (28): 5767–5771. Bibcode:2023JPCA..127.5767V. doi:10.1021/acs.jpca.3c03975. ISSN 1089-5639. PMID 37469270.