The ultrafast photoisomerization of model azobenzene macrocycles was studied by transient absorption spectroscopy. Our results reveal a strong dependence of the dynamics and the overall molecular properties on the geometric constraints and the intramolecular strain.
Electron transfer dynamics in CdTe/CdSe and CdSe/CdS core/shell heteronanostructures decorated with molecular acceptors are determined via transient absorption spectroscopy. The CdSe shell accelerates the electron transfer whereas the CdS shell leads to a retardation.