Kinetics of photoinduced charge transfer at microscopic and macroscopic interfaces

Charge transfer at a liquid-liquid interface is the key process in a variet y of chemical and biochemical processes. The kinetics of electron and proto n transfer was investigated at micro- and macroscopic interfaces. Experimen tally, these techniques are very distinct due to different approaches in me asuring the interfacial potential. Nevertheless, three processes, i.e. gene ration of charge carriers, diffusion and interfacial transfer, constitute t hree principal steps of charge separation, and are similar regardless of th e dimensionality of the system. Differences in (1) the thickness of the dou ble electric layer, (2) span of the photoreaction zone, and (3) relative ra te of electron-transfer and phase-transfer reactions enable approximations which are quite unique for a particular system. The mathematical models, co rresponding experimental results, and computer-simulation techniques result ing from various descriptions of charge transfer are discussed.