The dynamics of photoinduced electron injection and recombination between all-trans-8'- apo-β-caroten-8'-oic acid (ACOA) and a TiO2 colloidal nanoparticle have been studied by means of transient absorption spectroscopy. We observed an ultrafast (~ 360 fs) electron injection from the initially excited S2 state of ACOA into the TiO2 conduction band with a quantum yield of~ 40%. As a result, the ACOA+ radical cation was formed, as ...