Dr Federico Javier Hernández
Lecturer in Computational Chemistry
School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Computational Photochemistry, Computational Spectroscopy, Materials modelling, Nonadiabatic dynamics, Excited-state processes
Interests
Research Interests:
Research activities in Federico’s lab primarily focus on elucidating complex excited-state mechanisms occurring in molecular systems within diverse complex environments such as aggregates, organic crystals and in solution. These studies aim to deepen our understanding of the photophysical and photochemical processes, with the ultimate goal of enabling the rational design of novel functional molecules for materials application.
We are particularly interested in investigating the fundamental causes of photoactivated reactions and intra- and intermolecular photophysical processes, such as aggregation induced emission, radiative quenching, singlet fission, ultralong organic phosphorescence, charge, exciton and excitation transport and thermally activated delayed fluorescence, among others. These phenomena are central to a range of applications in optoelectronics as well as in energy storage and conversion. To achieve this, we combine an arsenal of computational methodologies for modelling potential energy surfaces and excited-state dynamics. Our approaches include plane-wave DFT, multiscale electronic structure methods (QM:QM’), and nonadiabatic dynamics methods such as surface hopping and Ehrenfest dynamics. These methods allow us to simulate the spectroscopy and molecular dynamics of complex systems upon photoexcitation. We further integrate this knowledge with data science and machine learning techniques to accelerate the study and discovery of novel materials for technological applications.
Publications

Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Chemical Research
2026
Perspective on a challenge: Predicting the photochemistry of cyclobutanoneJanoš J List NH Orr-Ewing AJ Suchan J Barbatti M Bennett O Brady M Carmona-García J et al.
The Journal of Chemical Physics,
Aip Publishing vol. 165 (2)
14-07-2026
A Magnetically Bistable Rigid Carbene2,3-BenzofluorenylideneGorbatenko K Mendez-Vega E Sandoval-Salinas ME Hernández FJ Crespo-Otero R Sander W
Journal of The American Chemical Society,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 148 (15), 15883-15896.
07-04-2026
Unraveling the Sources of Broadening in UV–Visible Spectra of Crystalline Oligoacenes Using Multiscale Computational ProtocolsHodée M Brunetti F Hernández FJ Escudero D
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 17 (5), 1383-1392.
24-01-2026
Understanding the photochemistry of a crystalline push–pull norbornadiene photoswitchHernández FJ Cox JM Li J Lopez S Crespo-Otero R
Chemical Science,
Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 17 (14), 7157-7170.
01-01-20262025
Spectroscopic characterisation of metastable photoswitches for CO 2 capture and releaseHernández FJ Curchod BFE
Chemical Communications,
Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 61 (91), 17850-17853.
01-01-20252023
Multiconfigurational Calculations and Photodynamics Describe Norbornadiene PhotochemistryHernández FJ Li J Crespo-Otero R
The Journal of Organic Chemistry,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 88 (9), 5311-5320.
06-04-2023
Conformational emissive states in dual-state emitters with benzotriazole acceptorsRodríguez-Cortés LA Hernández FJ Rodríguez M Toscano RA Jiménez-Sánchez A Crespo-Otero R Rodríguez-Molina B
Matter,
Elsevier vol. 6 (4), 1140-1159.
01-04-2023
Modeling Excited States of Molecular Organic Aggregates for OptoelectronicsHernández FJ Crespo-Otero R
Annual Review of Physical Chemistry,
Annual Reviews vol. 74 (1), 547-571.
15-02-2023
Photochemical Fingerprinting Is a Sensitive Probe for the Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; toward Robust Point-of-Care DetectionAndrews RC May B Hernández FJ Cozier GE Townsend PA Sutcliffe OB Haines TSF Freeman TP et al.
Analytical Chemistry,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 95 (2), 703-713.
04-01-20232022
Cover Feature: Asymmetric Dual‐State Emitters Featuring Thiazole Acceptors (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 35/2022)Belmonte‐Vázquez JL Hernández‐Morales EA Hernández F García‐González MC Crespo‐Otero R
European Journal of Organic Chemistry,
Wiley vol. 2022 (35)
02-09-2022
Asymmetric Dual‐State Emitters Featuring Thiazole AcceptorsBelmonte‐Vázquez JL Hernández‐Morales EA Hernández F Miranda LD
European Journal of Organic Chemistry,
Wiley vol. 2022 (35)
10-06-2022
Triplet Generation Dynamics in Si- and Ge-Bridged Conjugated CopolymersHernández FJ Fei Z Osborne C Crespo-Otero R Heeney M Dimitrov SD
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 126 (2), 1036-1045.
05-01-2022
Rate coefficient and mechanism of the OH-initiated degradation of cyclobutanol: A combined experimental and theoretical studyde los A. Garavagno M Hernández FJ Jara-Toro RA Mahecha G Barrera JA Taccone RA Pino GA
Atmospheric Environment,
Elsevier vol. 268
01-01-2022
Competition between ultralong organic phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence in dichloro derivatives of 9-benzoylcarbazoleSidat A Hernández FJ Stojanović L
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics,
Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 24 (48), 29437-29450.
01-01-20222021
Millimeter-Scale Zn(3-ptz)2 Metal–Organic Framework Single Crystals: Self-Assembly Mechanism and Growth KineticsGarcia-Garfido JM Enríquez J Chi-Durán I Jara I Vivas L Hernández FJ Herrera F Singh DP
Acs Omega,
American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 6 (27), 17289-17298.
25-06-2021
Excited-state vibration-polariton transitions and dynamics in nitroprussideGrafton AB Dunkelberger AD Simpkins BS Triana JF Hernández FJ Herrera F Owrutsky JC
Nature Communications,
Springer Nature vol. 12 (1)
11-01-2021
Excited state mechanisms in crystalline carbazole: the role of aggregation and isomeric defectsHernández FJ Crespo-Otero R
Journal of Materials Chemistry C,
Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 9 (35), 11882-11892.
01-01-20212020
The shape of the electric dipole function determines the sub-picosecond dynamics of anharmonic vibrational polaritonsTriana JF Hernández FJ Herrera F
The Journal of Chemical Physics,
Aip Publishing vol. 152 (23)
17-06-2020
Unraveling the sources of broadening in UV-Visible spectra of crystalline oligoacenes using multiscale computational protocolsHodée M Brunetti F Hernández F Escudero D
In
Chemrxiv
Dual-State Emission in Molecular Rotors with Reorientable Benzotriazole AcceptorsRodríguez-Cortés L Hernández F Rodríguez M Toscano R Jiménez-Sánchez A Crespo-Otero R Rodríguez-Molina B
In
Chemrxiv
Excited State Mechanisms in Crystalline Carbazole: The Role of Aggregation and Isomeric DefectsHernández FJ Crespo Otero R
In
Chemrxiv
Competition between ultralong organic phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence in dichloro derivatives of 9-benzoylcarbazoleSidat A Hernández FJ Stojanovic L Misquitta AJ Crespo-Otero R
In
Chemrxiv
Multiconfigurational calculations and photodynamics describe norbornadiene photochemistryHernandez F Cox J Li J Crespo-Otero R Lopez S
In
Chemrxiv
Grants

Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Chemical Research
Machine Learning Prediction of Absorption Spectra for Solar Thermal Fuels PhotoswitchesFederico Javier Hernández£5,216
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council01-06-2026 - 16-09-2026
Modelling excited state dynamics in molecular crystals for solar energy storage (International Exchanges 2022 Round 2)Rachel Crespo Otero and
Federico Javier Hernández£12,000
Royal Society02-11-2022 - 01-11-2024
Research Group