Electronic and Steric Tuning of Molecular Acidity toward Unified Models for Excited State Proton Transfer (Adv. Sci. 4/2026)

Extra Kick for Excited-State Proton Transfer This cover depicts the photoexcited Franck-Condon excess energy (EFC) that provides the more accurate driving force to predict excited-state proton transfer propensity and rate (see extra lightning on the central proton) for nonfluorescent derivatives of the archetypal green fluorescent protein chromophore from jellyfish in the ocean. This discovery bridges thermodynamics and kinetics with high spectral and temporal resolutions (red lights above water), bestowing us with more predictive and engineering power for light-driven processes in ubiquitous aqueous environment across chemical, biological, and energy fields. More details can be found in the Research Article by Chong Fang and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/advs.202517140). (Image credit: Cheng Chen and Chong Fang at Oregon State University, USA).