2020 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate major in Energy Science and Engineering
Introduction to Photochemistry II
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Energy Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Keiji Nagai / Atsushi Shishido
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon (G113)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ENR.H430
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
[Summary of the lecture] This course focuses on fundamental aspects in solar energy conversion based on photochemistry. In the early part, the course reviews fundamental photochemistry and photophysics and summarizes element processes of solar energy conversion. In the latter part, the course covers integration of these processes and view a future aspects on artificial photosynthesis.
[Aim of the lecture] It is important to utilize solar energy for sustainable society. In addition to understanding fundamental processes in photochemistry, their integration is required in order to construct solar energy conversion system. Students will have the chance to learn the concept of integration. In order to understand the integration of the element processes, students will catch experimental technique and evaluate solar energy conversion efficiency through this course.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to
(1) list up fundamental photochemical processes.
(2) explain photo-induced electron transfer and energy transfer.
(3) explain an integration of necessary elements to construct solar energy conversion system.
(4) evaluate conversion efficiency from solar light, and explain the evidential experiments.
(5) vision future solar energy conversion.
Keywords
solar energy conversion, integration, artificial photosynthesis, photoinduced electron transfer, energy transfer, conversion efficiency
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of each class, solutions to exercise problems assigned during the previous class are reviewed. Towards the end of class, students are given exercise problems related to what is taught on that day to solve.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Elemental process of photochemistry | Explain important points shown in Introduction to Photochemistry I, especially Jabronski diagram. |
| Class 2 | Spectrum of solar light | Explain radiation of light and solar light spectrum. |
| Class 3 | Light absorption | Explain the light absorption and how to absorb solar light efficiently. |
| Class 4 | How to output as chemical energy | Show endothermic photochemical reactions, and explain the examples. |
| Class 5 | Integration of multi processes | Explain mechanism of energy/electron transfer and show its examples. |
| Class 6 | Electron transfer in photosynthesis | Analyze element processes in natural photosynthesis, and explain how these electron transfer are integrated. |
| Class 7 | State-of-the-art artificial photosynthesis | Explain an artificial photosynthesis and discuss quantatively. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Principles of Molecular Photochemistry -An Introduction- by N. J. Turro, V. Ramamuthy, J.C. Scaiano, University Science Books
Principles of Molecular Photochemistry -An Introduction- by H. Inoue et al., Maruzen Co., Ltd. (Japanese)
Photochemistry I, H. Inoue et al., Maruzen Co., Ltd. (Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on a term-end report (50%) and exercise problems (50%).
Related courses
- ENR.H420 ： Introduction to Photochemistry I
- CAP.T401 ： Introduction to Polymer Chemistry I
- CAP.T402 ： Introduction to Polymer Physics II
- ENR.H501 ： Advanced Chemical Materials for Energy Issues I
- ENR.H413 ： Advanced Functional Polymer Materials I
- ENR.H503 ： Advanced Polymer Design for Energy Meterials
- ENR.I510 ： Optical properties of solids
- MAT.P401 ： Organic Optical Materials physics
- MAT.C500 ： Advanced Course of Materials Optics
- EEE.S461 ： Optical Communication Systems
Prerequisites
Need to understand Jablonski diagram which is one of the most important topics in the Introduction in Photochemistry I.