Term: charge separation
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00999

Definition:
A process in which, under the influence of a suitable driving force (e.g. provided by photoexcitation), electronic charge moves in a direction that increases the difference in local charges between donor and acceptor sites. electron transfer between neutral species is one of the most important examples.

Related Terms:
1) driving force (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01860).
2) electron transfer (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02011).
3) photoexcitation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04613).

Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 2223. 'Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2231 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122223)

Citation: 'charge separation' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00999

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