PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF ELECTRONS TRAPPED IN GLASSES OF METHYLTETRAHYDROFURAN AT 77°K

Abstract

In the radiolysis of methyltetrahydrofuran glass at 77°K electrons are produced with a high yield. These are immobilized in traps in the glass and do not recombine with positive ions. They can be released from their traps by illumination with visible and infrared light and may then diffuse to positive ions and be captured. The quantum efficiencies for bleaching have been measured as a function of wavelength. This quantum efficiency falls as bleaching proceeds and depends on the fraction of the electrons bleached and not on their concentrations. About half the electrons are trapped close to positive ions and, on release, have a high probability of diffusing to the positive ion. The remaining half are trapped homogeneously. On release from their traps, few of these electrons reach positive ions although they diffuse over long distances before being retrapped in the glass. This behavior is compared to that discussed by Samuel and Magee for the thermalization and capture of electrons in liquid water.