Directory
Zofia Majewska
PhD Student at University of Birmingham (Visiting PhD student hosted by Josene)
| When |
Sep 11, 2026 à 02:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where |
Salle Andre Collet |
Triazole-Based Photoprotection: From Commercial Sunscreens to New Molecular Designs
Excited state proton transfer (ESPT) is a highly effective way for molecules to safely dissipate absorbed UV energy. In the first part of this talk, I examine the role of ESPT in two widely used sunscreen filters, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (BEMT) and methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT). Using femtosecond transient electronic absorption spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, I investigate how these molecules achieve rapid and efficient photoprotection across different environments. The excellent performance of these triazine- and benzotriazole-based UV filters provides valuable design inspiration for future sunscreen technologies.
At the same time, concerns over the environmental impact of those conventional sunscreen ingredients continue to drive the search for new photoprotectants. In the second part of this talk, I present a new family of sinapate-triazole hybrid molecules that combine the photoprotective properties of triazole chromophores with the biomimetic character of naturally derived sinapates. Ultrafast spectroscopic studies are used to uncover how molecular structure controls energy dissipation, providing new design rules for the next generation of efficient and environmentally conscious UV filters.