In 1987, financial and contractual problems prevented agreement and, instead, ESP contracted with Elsevier,[3] leading to the restructuring of the Journal of Photochemistry into two separate journals: the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry,[4] continuing under Richard P. Wayne[5] and covering photochemistry and the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology[6] under founding editor Giulio Jori,[7] covering photobiology.

When the journal was first established, it aimed to increase from two issues a year to four,[9] an objective achieved and maintained since 2003.

Carpentier covers the fields of biophysics, biomolecular spectroscopy, photosynthesis, environmental photobiology, oxygen radicals, DNA repair, and UV-/VIS effects.

Robinson covers photomedicine, photodynamic therapy, photosensitisers and dermatology.

It is the official journal of the Japanese Photochemistry Association and is published quarterly.