How Do Electronic Excited States Affect Catalysis?
In catalysis, electronic excited states can alter the energy landscape of chemical reactions. When a catalyst is in an excited state, it may have different electronic properties compared to its ground state. This can lead to changes in the activation energy of a reaction, potentially making the catalytic process more efficient. For example, in photocatalysis, light is used to excite electrons in the catalyst, which can then participate in chemical reactions that would otherwise be energetically unfavorable.
