Recent Advances in Supramolecular and Surface Photochemistry
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Photochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 119
Special Issue Editors
Interests: smart materials; photochemistry; photophysics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Supramolecular photochemistry is a fascinating interdisciplinary field that utilizes intermolecular interactions to control the excited state reactivity of photoactive molecules; this leads to gaining deeper fundamental insights about both disciplines, as well as many profound practical applications. This science is widely used in nature, ranging from the photoswitching of 11-cis retinal inside the protein opsin to the deeply studied process of photosynthesis. When photoreactions are controlled by the shape, size, and unique traits of the inner cavities of host systems, this can lead to astonishing product selectivity, and enables the control of highly reactive species, such as singlet oxygen, carbenes, and nitrenes.
Supramolecular photochemistry is a dynamic inter-subdisciplinary field that was pioneered by Turro and Balzani, and formalized into the distinct field as we currently know it in the 1980s. Chemists have since shown an increasing interest in this area, as they progressively discovered that manipulating excited-state chemistry via non-bonding interactions is a powerful method for both understanding reaction mechanisms and controlling outcomes. The field gained broader attention in the late 2000s as its potential applications became clear in areas such as molecular machines, sensors, and solar energy conversion. Today, supramolecular photochemistry is recognized as a powerful tool capable of yielding transformational technologies through its utility in materials science, organic synthesis, drug discovery, nanotechnology, and medical diagnostics. The creative combination of supramolecular chemistry and photochemistry, based on the nature, directionality, and strength of non-bonding interactions, is orchestrated to control photoactivated reactions, leading to outcomes not possible in conventional isotropic solutions.
This Special Issue is dedicated to promoting and celebrating the latest advances in this vibrant field. We invite authors to submit their most advanced research, exploring the innovative ways that supramolecular photochemistry continues to push the boundaries of chemical science. We look forward to gathering a collection of works that furthers the frontiers of research and highlights the creative potential of combining light and molecular recognition.
Dr. Shipra Gupta
Dr. Mahesh Pattabiraman
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- supramolecular photochemistry
- organic photochemistry
- photochemical synthesis
- medicinal uses of photochemistry
- biomolecular photochemistry
- photochemical reaction mechanisms
- photochemistry in confined spaces
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