Term: photocatalysis
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04580

Definition:
Change in the rate of a chemical reaction or its initiation under the action of ultraviolet, visible or infrared radiation in the presence of a substance—the photocatalyst—that absorbs light and is involved in the chemical transformation of the reaction partners.

Related Terms:
1) initiation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03042).
2) ultraviolet (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.UT07492).
3) visible (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.VT07496).
4) infrared (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.IT07399).
5) photocatalyst (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.PT07446).
6) transformation (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06446).

Source: PAC, 2007, 79, 293. 'Glossary of terms used in photochemistry, 3rd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2006)' on page 384 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779030293)

Citation: 'photocatalysis' 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.P04580

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