Charge transfer reactions involving intermediates formed by homogeneous capture of laser-produced photoelectrons

Abstract

Light pulses of short duration produced by doubling the frequency of the output of a Q-switched laser are used to produce electron emission from a mercury electrode. The study of coulostatic photopotentials connected with the scavenging of hydrated photoelectrons in the solution and following processes can provide information about the chemical and electrochemical reactivity of short-lived intermediates. Results for solutions containing N₂O, NO^–₃, NO^–₂ or H₃O show few abnormalities connected with the high light intensity. The reduction of adsorbed H atoms on mercury in contact with an acidified solution appears to be a fairly slow process at potentials in the neighbourhood of –0.9 V against NCE with a transfer coefficient appreciably larger than zero.