International joint study on ultrafast chemical dynamics in aqueous environment

Project Gist

Elucidation of solution chemistry at the level of ultrafast electron dynamics

Keywords

solution, chemistry, reaction, electron, ultrafast spectroscopy

Background, Purpose, and Project Achievements

Water is indispensable for life, and elucidation of chemical dynamics in aqueous solution is the heart of chemistry. This project aimed at application of ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy of liquids, pioneered at Kyoto university, to elucidate electronic dynamics and solvation response in aqueous solution. It is noted that 70% content of living cell is liquid water, and radiation creates solvated electrons. In this study, we succeeded in elucidation of energetics and dynamics of solvated electron in water.

Future Prospects

We would like to elucidate how high energy electrons are created by ionization of cell water and how these electrons undergo energy relaxation and induce dissociation or mutation of DNA. To this end, we continue developing novel experimental techniques.

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Principal Investigator