Solvated dielectrons from optical excitation: An effective source of low-energy electrons
Abstract
Low-energy electrons dissolved in liquid ammonia or aqueous media are powerful reducing agents that promote challenging reduction reactions, but can also cause radiation damage to biological tissue. Knowledge of the underlying mechanistic processes remains incomplete, in particular with respect to the details and energetics of the electron transfer steps. Here, we show 20 how ultraviolet (UV) photoexcitation of metal-ammonia clusters could be used to generate tunable low-energy electrons in situ. Specifically, we identified UV light-induced generation of spin-paired solvated dielectrons and their subsequent relaxation by an unconventional electron-transfer-mediated decay as an efficient low-energy electron source. The process is robust and straightforward to induce, with the prospect of improving our understanding of radiation damage 25 and fostering mechanistic studies of solvated electron reduction reactions. Show more
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https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000614355Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
ScienceVolume
Pages / Article No.
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AAASOrganisational unit
03961 - Signorell, Ruth / Signorell, Ruth
Funding
200306 - How weak intermolecular interactions govern the formation and properties of clusters and aerosol droplets (SNF)
786636 - Droplet Photoelectron Imaging (EC)
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Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000611963
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