30  Photophysical properties of metal complexes

This is a new chapter which aims to cover the important developments in the highly topical field of what is generally known as ‘supramolecular photochemistry’. As such it covers the luminescence and photophysical properties of metal complex assemblies involving coordination and organometallic units. Mononuclear complexes are also covered as their properties are often of interest in the same field. The emphasis is on molecular species; solid-state species (metal oxides etc.) are not covered; nor, in general, are coordination networks unless they show properties of particular relevance which are likely to be of interest.