ENERGETIC ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE OF (9-FLUORENYL)METHANOL INDUCED BY INJECTION OF HOT-ELECTRONS INTO AQUEOUS-ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION

Hot electron injection into aqueous electrolyte solutions from metal/i nsulator/metal/electrolyte and metal/insulator/electrolyte tunnel junc tions is considered and the possibility of an electrochemical generati on of hydrated electrons is discussed. The hot electron-induced UV ele ctrochemiluminescence of (9-fluorenyl)methanol was used to demonstrate the presence of highly energetic transient species in aqueous solutio n at several metal/insulator/electrolyte hot electron tunnel emitters. These transient species cannot be produced electrochemically in fully aqueous solutions at any active metal electrodes. A detailed mechanis m for the present electrochemiluminescence is suggested.