Solvated electrons on metal oxide surfaces

Solvated electrons can be introduced into protic solvents through the dissolution of highly reducing species such as alkali metals or through the exposure of liquids to ionizing radiation. Molecular cluster anions provide a versatile environment where electron solvation can be studied through cluster-size selection over a range from the single molecule to the near-bulk solvent limits. TR-2PP has been used to study electron solvation for a variety of solvent molecule overlayers on metal surfaces including alkanes, alcohols, nitriles and water. On metal surfaces, the solvation dynamics are governed by the degree of crystallinity of ice and the electronic structure of the substrate. The two-dimensional solvated electrons at solvent surfaces may be particularly reactive metastable reagents that can participate in a variety of interfacial reactions.