An electronic transition in which a large fraction of an electronic charge is transferred
from one region of a molecular entity, called the
electron donor, to another, called the
electron acceptor (
intramolecularCT) or from one molecular entity to another (
intermolecularCT). Typical for donor-acceptor complexes or multichromophoric molecular entities. In
some cases the charge-transfer absorption band may be obscured by the absorption of
the partners.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2223
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2232