Claudia Turro Research Group

Ohio State University (Main campus)

Can light-activated metal complexes be controlled to selectively release therapeutics or drive solar-fuel reactions under visible or near-IR illumination? The Turro group investigates excited-state control and dynamics of mono- and dinuclear transition metal complexes using photophysical measurements and photochemical assays to study energy transfer, charge separation, recombination, and ligand dissociation. Projects include designing complexes that are nontoxic in the dark but cytotoxic upon irradiation for photochemotherapy and photo-induced ligand dissociation to enable targeted drug delivery. The group also develops complexes that both harvest broad-spectrum sunlight and act as photosensitizers or catalysts for hydrogen generation under red and near-IR light.