Abstract:

Anticipating forthcoming changes in the 21st century, a century predicted to be the "Age of Light",we are interested in light-related chemical phenomena. We are engaged in basic and applied research on the phenomena specifically occurring at a solid (semiconductor or metal) and a solution or gas upon the application of light energy to the interface. We are exploring these phenomena so that they can be put into practical use. The interface in such a heterogeneous system shows characteristics distinctly different from those of any one phase, which at times has given as the delight of observing an unexpected phenomenon.