Photoelectron spectroscopy of solvated electrons in alcohol and acetonitrile microjets

Abstract

Photoelectron spectra of solvated electrons in methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile microjets are reported. Solvated electrons are generated in and detached from microjets using two photons from single nanosecond laser pulses at wavelengths ranging 266 to 213 nm. We find vertical binding energies of 3.38 ± 0.11 eV in methanol and 3.38 ± 0.10 eV in ethanol. Two features are observed in acetonitrile at 2.61 ± 0.11 eV and 3.67 ± 0.15 eV, attributed to the solvated and dimer-bound binding geometries respectively. These results are compared to previous work on solvated cluster anions and alkali-doped solvent clusters.