Excitation of CT complexes in solution allows observation of the separtation of anion and cation into free charges. We measure the quantum yield of that separation as a function of solution dielectric constatn and are thus gaining insight into intraionic potentials at small ion separtation. It is fascinating to directly watch ion pair dipoles both decay and separate with our time-resolved photocurrent experiments. We also find that some symmetrical molecules like bianthryl play some involved tricks after photoexcitation as they decide where their dipole moment will point. We hope to apply the techniques we are developing to problems in photosynthesis and in vision.
Additional details are on the electron transfer website.
S.N.Smirnov, C.L.Braun, Advances in the Transient DC Photocurrent Technique for Excited State Dipole Moment Measurements. Field Dependent Distribution Functions.