THE QUASI-BALLISTIC MODEL OF ELECTRON-MOBILITY IN LIQUID HYDROCARBONS- APPLICATION TO ELECTRON SCAVENGING

In the two-state, quasi-ballistic model electron scavenging occurs in the quasi free state with a specific rate k(s)(f), related to the over all effective rate k(s)(eff) by k(s)(f) = k(s)(eff)(k(tf) + k(ft))/k(t f), where k(ft) and k(tf) are respectively the rates of trapping and d etrapping. k(s)(eff) is compared with experimental values for five com mon scavengers in seven liquid hydrocarbons, and the reaction probabil ity of the final chemical step is determined by an analysis based on k (s)(f). In general, both k(s)(f) and the reaction probability decrease with mobility for all scavengers, partly due to long mean free path o f the electron in the quasi-free state and partly due to the inefficie ncy of reaction. Reaction radius is estimated to be similar to 1 nm fo r most scavengers. Few reactions are found to be diffusion-controlled. Possible exceptions are low-mobility liquids (e.g., n-hexane) in whic h almost all scavenging reactions, except for biphenyl, appear to be d iffusion-controlled.