Chemistry, Light and Dynamics Group Seminar

Photosynthetic organisms use networks of chromophores to absorb sunlight and deliver the energy with exceptionally high efficiency to reaction centres, where charge separation triggers a cascade of chemical steps to store the energy. The chromophores (chlorophyll) in these networks are typically arranged in organised, highly symmetric complexes but the functional significance (if any) of this level of organisation is not fully understood. Using models of exciton dynamics across large antenna complexes and the electronic structure of neighbouring chlorophyll pairs, I will discuss how the structure of these complexes may, or may not, promote efficient energy transfer and protect against unwanted energy loss