The Quantum Dance of Photosynthesis: Current View of the Role of Quantum Effects in the Absorption of Light Energy
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editors
Interests: ultra-fast spectroscopic (including two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) study of coherent energy transfer and charge transfer processes in photosynthetic systems and artificial simulation systems; temperature-jump time-resolved infrared spectroscopic study of protein dynamic structure; transient spectroscopic study of interface properties and defect state energy level distribution of photocatalytic semiconductor materials
Interests: plant biochemistry and physiology; bioenergetics; photosynthesis and photosynthetic metabolism; herbicide action; ecophysiology; environmental stress and plant stress response
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Photosynthesis is a highly optimized process, and operating principles such as the quantum design principle have been exploited by nature. The highly efficient solar energy collection, transfer, and conversion in photosynthesis are accomplished by specialized membrane-bound pigment–protein complexes. Quantum coherence allows for the simultaneous exploration of multiple energy pathways, ensuring that energy reaches the reaction center more efficiently. However, quantum coherence is weak in biological systems and can be easily disrupted by the “hot and wet” environmental fluctuations and noise. Recent studies using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy have shown that quantum phase synchronization via electronic–vibronic energy dissipation can sustain long-lived coherence, supporting coherent energy transfer. Quantum effects may not be limited to light-harvesting pigments; the static and dynamic structures of pigment-bound proteins can also play a pivotal role in implementing quantum design principles. For example, a protein dynamical structure-activated quantum switch in the light-harvesting complex of Photosystem II (LHCII) in higher plants has been demonstrated to regulate the state transition between light harvesting and photoprotection (non-photochemical quenching) under high light intensity.
This Special Issue seeks high-quality contributions that emphasize quantum effects in photosynthesis. We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Issue. We welcome studies that explore the following:
- Experimental investigations of coherent energy transfer in the primary processes of photosynthesis
- Structural studies of pigment-protein complexes related to quantum effects
- Evolutionary aspects of pigment-protein structures that preserve quantum coherence
- The impact of environmental stresses on quantum effects
- Integrative studies combining experimental data with theoretical models to uncover underlying quantum design principles
Prof. Dr. Yuxiang Weng
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Huchzermeyer
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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. Plants 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
- quantum coherence
- coherent energy transfer
- quantum phase synchronization
- exciton-vibrational coupling
- protein dynamical structure
- two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy
- quantum design principle
- photosynthetic antenna
- reaction center
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