Electrons in liquid alcohols at low temperatures

Abstract

The spectra due to electrons in alcohols at temperatures near their melting points show absorptions in the far and infra-red which, in general, decay to produce increased absorptions in the visible. At these temperatures the time for these changes increases in the order methanol, ethanol, n-butyl, isopropyl, n-propyl alcohol. For the latter the half-life of the absorption decay is given by τ_s=A exp E/RT where log₁₀A=–15.7 and E= 25 kJ (5.9 kcal). Addition of solutes which react with electrons decreases the initial infra-red absorption and is interpreted as reaction with electrons before they become solvated. The observations are discussed in terms of molecular relaxation and electron migration.