Dual sites of solvation for electrons produced by photoionisation in aqueous micellar solutions

Abstract

Laser flash photolysis of either aqueous micellar solutions of triton X-165 at 248 nm or of a probe phenothiazine (PTH) in triton X-165 or brij-35 micelles at 351 nm gives transient absorption peaks at 630 and 720 nm which are attributed to electrons solvated in the palisade region of the nonionic micelle and to electrons hydrated in bulk water. Picosecond studies show that, at the end of a 35 ps pulse, the electrons are already solvated, a major fraction of which undergo geminate recombination with the sibling cations. After 10 ns, both the 630 and 720 nm peaks are clearly seen.