Talk on the flow of energy and charge by Prof. Tom Oliver

On October 27, 2025, Prof. Tom Oliver from the University of Bristol delivered a talk titled “Exploring the Flow of Energy and Charge in Molecules, Peptides, and Plants” in Room A409 of the Tang Aoqing Building, at the invitation of Prof. Guanglu Wu. The event attracted many faculty members and students, creating an active atmosphere of academic engagement.

During the talk, Prof. Oliver introduced his group’s recent advances in applying ultrafast spectroscopy to study energy and electron transfer in artificially designed proteins, such as α-helical barrel proteins and maquette scaffolds, with the aim of emulating key processes in natural photosynthesis. He highlighted how the precise spatial arrangement of chromophores can modulate photochemical efficiency, and presented research on synthetic supramolecular lectins, where glucose binding regulates symmetry-breaking charge transfer states.

He also discussed a remarkable natural example found in shade-adapted plants, where chloroplast membrane structures produce blue iridescence to enhance light absorption. This phenomenon provides inspiration for the development of bioinspired photonic materials.

The talk concluded with a lively Q&A session. Participants raised questions regarding energy-transfer efficiency, ultrafast spectroscopic methodology, and challenges in artificial protein design. Prof. Oliver offered comprehensive and insightful responses, promoting meaningful scientific dialogue.

（Drafted by Xianjia Yan，reviewed by Yibin）