Reaction Dynamics within a Cluster Environment

Abstract

This perspective article reviews experimental and theoretical works where rare gas clusters and helium nanodroplet are used as nanoreactor to investigate chemical dynamics in a solvent environment. A historical perspective is presented first, then specific considerations on the mobility of reactants within these reaction media. The dynamical response of pure clusters and nanodroplets to photoexcitation is shortly reviewed before examining the role of the cluster (or nanodroplet) degrees of freedom on the photodynamics of the guest atoms and molecules.