LUMO
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry
| Stands for | Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
LUMO stands for Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, a chemistry abbreviation.
The lowest-energy molecular orbital that holds no electrons, the first place an added or excited electron goes. Its energy indicates how easily a molecule accepts electrons, so materials scientists tune the LUMO when designing electron acceptors for organic solar cells and battery electrolytes.
Example: Fluorination lowered the LUMO by 0.3 eV, improving electron transport in the device.
Usage notes
With the HOMO, the LUMO forms the "frontier orbitals" of a molecule. Absorbing light often promotes an electron from HOMO to LUMO, so a smaller gap shifts absorption toward longer, redder wavelengths. Computational chemists estimate both energies with methods such as density functional theory.
Related abbreviations
More chemistry abbreviations
- IPA – Isopropyl alcohol
- IR – Infrared spectroscopy
- IUPAC – International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
- LC-MS – Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
- LD50 – Lethal dose, 50%
- LDPE – Low-density polyethylene
- M – Molar (moles per liter)
- MALDI – Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization
- Me – Methyl group
- MEK – Methyl ethyl ketone
- MeOH – Methanol
- MOF – Metal-organic framework