Temperature and solvent dependence of electron scavenging efficiency in polar liquids: water and alcohols

Abstract

High concentrations of electron scavengers reduce the initial yield of e sol − and its precursor, e t − . The scavenging efficiency of a solute is inversely proportional to its C 37 value, the solute concentration required to reduce the initial electron yield to 37% of the yield with no scavenger present. Over a range of 40 to −60 °C the C 37 value for a given scavenger is almost constant, and is the same for e sol − and e t − . In water and alcohols, the C 37 value is not correlated with the time required for solvation of the electron, τ s , or the static dielectric constant, ε s , but rather with the concentration of oxygen atoms in the solvent. These results support the model in which the scavenging of a mobile electron occurs before the electron is trapped in the solvent.