Geometrical structure of solvated electrons in ethanol glass determined from electron spin echo modulation analyses

Abstract

Two-pulse and three-pulse electron spin echo deuterium modulation patterns have been analyzed for radiation-produced solvated electrons in the following specifically deuterated ethanol glasses: CH/sub 3/CH/sub 2/OD, CH/sub 3/CD/sub 2/OH, and CD/sub 3/CH/sub 2/OH. The analyses are all consistent with four first-solvation-shell molecules around the electron with the CD/sub 3/ deuterons at 0.38 nm, the CD/sub 2/ deuterons at 0.33 nm, and the OD deuteron at 0.22 nm from the electron. The distances are compatible only with a molecular dipole orientation of the ethanol molecules with the bisector of the COD bond angle approximately oriented toward the electron. This contrasts with the OD bond dipole orientation found for solvated electrons in aqueous matrices.