photoactive compound

A photoactive compound is a material that undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to light. This process, known as a photochemical reaction, involves molecules absorbing light energy, which excites them to a higher energy state. These excited molecules can then undergo various transformations, such as breaking apart, rearranging, or transferring energy or electrons to other molecules.1

This phenomenon is fundamental to processes like photosynthesis, where plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, and is also utilized in technologies like photography and the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. In materials science, photoactive compounds are crucial components of photoresist films, which are used in photolithography to create intricate patterns on wafers for integrated circuits.12