The use of diffuse reflectance laser flash photolysis to study primary photoprocesses in anisotropic media

The technique of Diffuse Reflectance Laser Flash Photolysis is outlined in terms of the general principles for detecting transient absorption within an optically-dense medium, and for interpreting from diffusely reflected analysing light the kinetic and spectral properties or the transient species. The application or data obtained by the technique to further the understanding of photoprocesses in anisotropic media is discussed using examples or dyed cotton fabrics, functionalised polymers, molecules adsorbed as fractions of a monolayer on oxide substrates, and ketones intercalated in the channels of ‘silicalite’.