HYDRATED ELECTRONS IN A QUATERNARY MICROEMULSION SYSTEM - A PULSE-RADIOLYSIS STUDY

Using the technique of pulse radiolysis, hydrated electrons have been produced and studied in quaternary microemulsion (sodium lauryl sulfat e (NaLS)/water/cyclohexane/1-pentanol) system. Remarkably high lifetim es (similar to 20 mu s) for hydrated electrons have been obtained. In general, these are two orders of magnitude higher than those reported earlier in reverse micelles, The water droplet sizes and location of t he probes have been determined from the decay kinetics of hydrated ele ctrons. The yields and half-lives (t(1/2)) of the hydrated electrons v ary smoothly as the water droplet sizes are changed. We believe that t hese studies will be useful not only in interpreting electron transfer reactions occurring in small water pockets in biological systems but also in the production of metal nanoclusters by radiation chemical met hod. (C) 1997 Academic Press.