The research group was created in 1992 under the direction of Dr. María Alejandra Grela within the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences (OCA 92/1992). Its current composition was approved by OCA 792/2019.

The research lines comprise physicochemical studies of photoinduced processes with potential applications in decontamination and energy transformation, as well as natural molecules and nanostructured systems with UV protection, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.