Active Chemistry Physics & Astronomy

UKRI-NSF Measuring and Understanding Quantum Entanglement in Photochemical Reactions

Funder EPSRC (part of UKRI)
Recipient organisation University of Cambridge
Funding £526K
Period Jul 2025 — Jul 2028

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

A photochemical reaction may be keeping a quantum secret—and researchers want to catch it in the act. This project asks whether quantum entanglement, the strange connection between particles that persists across distance, can occur during a chemical reaction and even steer its outcome. The team will focus on a photoinduced electron transfer reaction, a type of process central to photosynthesis, solar cells, and light-driven catalysis. They have already discovered a material with a peculiar symmetry-breaking behaviour that makes it ideal for tracking the spin states of electrons as the reaction unfolds. By combining synthesis, spectroscopy, and theory, they aim to map whether and how entanglement appears during the reaction. This is fundamental science. There is no immediate practical application. But understanding whether quantum mechanics plays a direct role in chemical reactions could reshape how chemists think about reaction mechanisms. If entanglement can be used to direct a reaction’s products or boost its yield, it might one day lead to more efficient solar energy conversion, better photocatalysts, or new ways to control chemical manufacturing. For now, the goal is simply to find out whether the effect exists—and to build the tools to measure it.

View original technical description
Does quantum entanglement play a role in a chemical reaction? Can entanglement be used to direct the outcome or enhance the yield of products? This proposal addresses the first important steps towards understanding these questions. We will formulate the question rigorously using quantum information science (QIS), identify suitable chemical systems that we will use to test hypothesis, and develop experimental and theoretical methods that will enable us to assess whether quantum entanglement plays a role in a photochemical reaction. Our system of choice is a photoinduced electron transfer reaction which is ubiquitous in chemistry – it is fundamental in the some of the most important processes including photosynthesis, photovoltaics and photoredox catalysis. We capitalize on our recent discovery of a unique symmetry breaking photoinduced electron transer reaction in materials with open-shell character. These materials present a unique opportunity to track spin-states through a variety of techniques allowing for a clear picture of the evolution of the states during a reaction. By combining synthesis, spectroscopy and theory we will understand and probe the extent of entanglement in this photochemical reaction paving the way to a new understanding of the role of quantum mechanics in reaction mechanisms.

View the original record at the funder ↗

Researchers

Akshay Rao (Co-Investigator)Alexandra Olaya-Castro (Co-Investigator)Hugo Bronstein (Principal Investigator)Richard Friend (Co-Investigator)

Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

UKRI-NSF EPSRC-MPS/Chemistry (CHE): Quantum Coherence and Correlations in Condensed Phase Photochemical Reaction Dynamics
EPSRC - Chemistry (CHE): Developing a Chemical Toolbox for Single-Qubit Entanglement
UKRI-NSF A New Framework for Exploring and Exploiting Quantum Correlations in Molecular Singlet Fission
EPSRC-NSF Nanoscale spin entanglement and chemistry (NanoSPINEC)
Quantum entanglement in attosecond ionisation

Original classification

Research and Innovation

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.