Structural characterisation of the pigments and redox components in the reaction centre. Spectroscopic techniques, so important in the molecular sciences, have often been adapted from discoveries in physics and subsequently applied to a wide range of questions in molecular science. Nuclear magnetic resonance serves as an example. Although arguably the most important technique in chemistry, nmr was initially discovered and largely abandoned by physicists. One aim is to continually evolve these capacities.
Many groups concentrate on a single spectroscopic technique.
We have, for example, used our approach to great advantage in the subject of charge transfer excitations and excitation hopping rates. Our research program involves the development of an understanding of the electronic structure and photophysical properties, principally of inorganic materials, at the highest level both experimentally and theoretically. Critical to this process is the application of the most appropriate spectroscopic techniques, often in parallel, targeted to each particular problem. The spectroscopic technologies themselves need to be maintained, enhanced and evolved. We see recent developments in density functional computational methods as reaching a level where theory has a more useful function in spectroscopy.