Quenching Kinetics of Triplet-State Photosensitizers in Environmental Photochemistry.
7 affiliations
- 1Institute of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha410083, China.
- 2Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha410083, China.
- 3Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 5, Torino10125, Italy.
- 4Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio43210, United States.
- 5Department G1─General Water Quality Issues, Federal Institute of Hydrology, Division G─Qualitative Hydrology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, Koblenz56068, Germany.
- 6Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, Faculty 3: Mathematics/Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz, Universitätsstraße 1, Koblenz56070, Germany.
- 7Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BathBA2 7AY, U.K.
Abstract
Triplet-state photosensitizers (3Sens*) are central to carbon cycling and pollutant degradation in sunlit surface and atmospheric waters, but their environmental roles remain only partly understood. Although the photophysical and photochemical properties of 3Sens* have been investigated, most studies remain confined to simplified systems with limited environmental relevance. This review critically analyzes approaches for characterizing the kinetic behavior of 3Sens*, focusing on bimolecular quenching rate constants (kq, M-1 s-1), and evaluates the strengths and limitations of current methodologies for their determination. A curated dataset (n = 105), spanning 5 orders of magnitude (105 to 109 M-1 s-1), is then used to analyze how molecular structure (electron-donating groups, conjugation, steric hindrance) and environmental conditions (pH, solvent polarity, ionic strength, temperature) govern kq and alter underlying reaction mechanisms. By coupling kinetic isotope effects with spectroscopic evidence, the review distinguishes redox-driven pathways from energy transfer processes. These insights connect molecular-scale controls on kq with environmentally relevant conditions. However, key gaps remain in triplet-yield data, mixed-photosensitizer systems, and interfacial processes limiting our understanding of 3Sens*-mediated transformations in aqueous and atmospheric multiphase environments.
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BibTeX
@article{zhu2026quenching,
title = {{Quenching Kinetics of Triplet-State Photosensitizers in Environmental Photochemistry.}},
author = {Sha Zhu and Keying Fan and Davide Vione and Yiwu Tang and Richard Spinney and Jannis Wenk and Ruiyang Xiao},
journal = {Environmental science \& technology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6c05761},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42916258},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Quenching Kinetics of Triplet-State Photosensitizers in Environmental Photochemistry.
AU - Sha Zhu
AU - Keying Fan
AU - Davide Vione
AU - Yiwu Tang
AU - Richard Spinney
AU - Jannis Wenk
AU - Ruiyang Xiao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Environmental science & technology
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6c05761
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42916258
AB - Triplet-state photosensitizers (3Sens*) are central to carbon cycling and pollutant degradation in sunlit surface and atmospheric waters, but their environmental roles remain only partly understood. Although the photophysical and photochemical properties of 3Sens* have been investigated, most studies remain confined to simplified systems with limited environmental relevance. This review critically analyzes approaches for characterizing the kinetic behavior of 3Sens*, focusing on bimolecular quenching rate constants (kq, M-1 s-1), and evaluates the strengths and limitations of current methodologies for their determination. A curated dataset (n = 105), spanning 5 orders of magnitude (105 to 109 M-1 s-1), is then used to analyze how molecular structure (electron-donating groups, conjugation, steric hindrance) and environmental conditions (pH, solvent polarity, ionic strength, temperature) govern kq and alter underlying reaction mechanisms. By coupling kinetic isotope effects with spectroscopic evidence, the review distinguishes redox-driven pathways from energy transfer processes. These insights connect molecular-scale controls on kq with environmentally relevant conditions. However, key gaps remain in triplet-yield data, mixed-photosensitizer systems, and interfacial processes limiting our understanding of 3Sens*-mediated transformations in aqueous and atmospheric multiphase environments.
SN - 0013-936X
SN - 1520-5851
ER -