Photodecomposition involves the breakdown of chemical compounds due to the absorption of light energy. The rate at which a compound decomposes may vary due to a number of different factors including what is present in the chemical’s environment and what wavelength (i.e., color) of light is used. Thus, it is important to study the photodecomposition of compounds in diverse conditions. Such knowledge can be used to develop measures to either protect desired compounds from radiation or accelerate the decomposition of undesirable compounds.
Our research explores the photodecomposition of various compounds under a variety of conditions. In our experiments, the breakdown of a target compound being subjected to irradiation is monitored by tracking how its color changes over time. By varying factors such as solvent composition, pH, or irradiation wavelength, we can determine how different environmental factors affect the decomposition process.
