Spectroscopy and dynamics of the hydrated electron at the water/air interface

Jordan, Caleb J. C.; Coons, Marc P.; Herbert, John M.; Verlet, Jan R. R.

Abstract

The hydrated electron, e–(aq), has attracted much attention as a central species in radiation chemistry. However, much less is known about e–(aq) at the water/air surface, despite its fundamental role in electron transfer processes at interfaces. Using time-resolved electronic sum-frequency generation spectroscopy, the electronic spectrum of e–(aq) at the water/air interface and its dynamics are measured here, following photo-oxidation of the phenoxide anion. The spectral maximum agrees with that for bulk e–(aq) and shows that the orbital density resides predominantly within the aqueous phase, in agreement with supporting calculations. In contrast, the chemistry of the interfacial hydrated electron differs from that in bulk water, with e–(aq) diffusing into the bulk and leaving the phenoxyl radical at the surface. Our work resolves long-standing questions about e–(aq) at the water/air interface and highlights its potential role in chemistry at the ubiquitous aqueous interface.

Citation

Jordan, C. J. C., Coons, M. P., Herbert, J. M., & Verlet, J. R. R. (2024). Spectroscopy and dynamics of the hydrated electron at the water/air interface. Nature Communications, 15(1), Article 182. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44441-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 13, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 2, 2024
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 16, 2024
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Electronic ISSN: 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 182
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44441-2
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2085044
• Additional Information: Author Correction: Spectroscopy and dynamics of the hydrated electron at the water/air interface: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44816-z