Singlet Oxygen Generation and Reactions in Aqueous Systems
Summary
Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is the electronically excited form of dioxygen characterised by paired electrons in antibonding orbitals. In aqueous media, it is most commonly generated via energy transfer from photoexcited sensitiser molecules under visible or ultraviolet illumination. Alternative pathways include Fenton‐type reactions, thermal decomposition of endoperoxides and enzyme‐mediated processes. Once formed, ¹O₂ undergoes rapid physical deactivation by water and biomolecular quenchers, yet even transient concentrations drive selective oxidation of organic substrates. These reactions underpin applications ranging from photodynamic therapy and antimicrobial interventions to advanced oxidation processes for water treatment. The steady‐state concentration and lifetime of ¹O₂ depend on factors such as photosensitiser identity, light intensity, dissolved oxygen levels and the presence of scavengers. Improved mechanistic understanding of aqueous quenching pathways has informed the design of more efficient sensitiser systems and catalysts, enabling targeted oxidation in complex matrices while minimising unwanted side‐reactions.
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Singlet Oxygen Generation and Reactions in Aqueous Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in singlet oxygen generation and reactions in aqueous systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Singlet oxygen (¹O₂): An electronically excited state of dioxygen with paired electrons in the same orbital, highly reactive towards organic molecules.
Photosensitiser: A compound that absorbs light and transfers energy to ground‐state oxygen to produce singlet oxygen.
Quantum yield: The efficiency with which absorbed photons produce singlet oxygen.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen, including singlet oxygen, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals.
Type II photoreaction: A photochemical pathway in which energy transfer from an excited sensitiser generates singlet oxygen.
References
- Superhydrophobic Dressing for Singlet Oxygen Delivery in Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Biofilms. ACS Applied Bio Materials (2024).
- Alternative methods of photodynamic therapy and oxygen consumption measurements—A review. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2020).
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