Research in the Marcus group involves analyses and theories of a wide range of phenomena in chemical kinetics and in related processes.  Its primary focus is on formulating theories to explain new and sometimes unexpected experimental results, as well as improving the understanding of earlier work, and exploring the relation between phenomena in different fields. Recent examples are

• Single molecule conductance, solvational entropic effects and bridging the gap between Landauer and Marcus theories.
• A theoretical model of elastically coupled reactions for single molecule imaging and rotor manipulation experiments on F1-ATPase.
• Temperature-dependent phonon modes of the organometallic lead iodide CH₃NH₃Pbl₃ thin film for the terahertz frequency (0.5-3 THz) and temperature (20-300 K) ranges and comparison of experimental and theoretical mobilities.
• The striking on-water catalysis of organic reactions in emulsions, related also to catalysis on hydroxylated metal oxides.
• The fluorescent intermittency in single molecule studies of semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots), and the role of biexcitons in the latter. 
• Development of the theory for electron and hole injection from dyes into semiconductors, related to a photovoltaic solar cell. .
• The mass-independent isotopic fractionation in the formation of ozone and other stratospheric gases, as well as a detailed dynamical and statistical theory analysis of ozone formation from the recombination of O and O₂ in the stratosphere and in the laboratory.

GROUP’S SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST

WEI-CHEN CHEN
Elementary steps in photovoltaic systems electron and hole injection into semiconductors

OGANES KHATCHIKIAN
ATP Synthase: molecular motors - single molecule mechanics

RICARDO MATUTE 
Mechanism of ATP synthase

KAI NIU
Theoretical interpretations of nonlinear spectroscopy

LUAN LE QUANG
Mechanism of molecular motors, in particular F1-ATPase

SANDOR VOLKAN-KACSO
Theory applied to experiments in nano-machines and nano-structure:
1. Single-molecule imaging and manipulation in biological motors: F1-ATPase and Myosin V
2. Fluorescence and plasmonics in single nanocrystal: quantum dots, nanorods and nanowires