Comparison of photoconductivity and optical spectra for trapped electrons in aqueous and alcoholic glasses at 4.2 K

Abstract

The photoconductivity and optical spectra of localized electrons generated at 4 K by radiolysis have been measured and compared with previous results at 85 K for a variety of polar aqueous and alcoholic matrices. At 85 K the localized electrons are largely solvated, characterized by an equilibrium distribution of solvent molecules around them. At 4 K the localized electrons have often not attained an equilibrium first solvation shell and are described as presolvated. The current results are discussed in terms of the binding energy and nature of the optical transitions associated with presolvated electrons vs solvated electrons in ethanol, ethylene glycol–water, 10 M NaOD/D2O, 7 M NaClO4/D2O and 5 M K2CO3/D2O glassy matrices.