Photoionization of 3-Methylindole Embedded in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Dodecyltrimethylammonium Chloride Micelles: Migration of Electrons Generated in Micelle Cores and Their Solvation in Outside Water

Abstract

Electrons were generated in the core of micelles formed by negatively charged sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or positively charged dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) by photoionization of 3-methylindole embedded in the core. The electrons were hydrated after they moved out of the core to the outer aqueous phase. These processes were monitored with femtosecond time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The migration of electrons from the micelle core to the outer aqueous phase was faster than the instrumental response time of 200 fs. Hot electrons in the aqueous phase were produced in ≤320 fs. There was no significant difference observed for the micellar solutions of negatively charged SDS and positively charged DTAC, or for water. The geminate recombination between the electrons and the radical cations was hindered to a large extent once the electrons hydrated at the outer aqueous phase were separated from the radical cations remaining in the micelle core.