Physics Take Closer Look at Electron Transfer

When solutes and solvents exchange electric charges, they do so through a mechanism called electron transfer. This is one of the most basic interactions that can take place between various types of substances, and investigators can generally use spectroscopic techniques to gain more insights into how it works. These methods rely on using a specialized device to break apart light emitted by a target material or process, and obtain details about what and how many chemicals are involved. A new spectroscopic technique can now look at electron transfer in closer detail.

The interaction that light waves have with study samples can therefore be readily deciphered. This is very useful for space studies, given that astrophysicists can for example analyze the light emitted from distant stars. They can establish a wealth of data following such studies, such as for example the chemical composition the cosmic structures have. But, in a recent study, a team of German researchers managed to innovate the research method known as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, in a way that allows them to look at how electric charges move from solute to solvent.

Thanks to the advancement, which was accomplished at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fur Materialien und Energie (HZB), scientists can now look at the temporal sequence associated with electron transfer. Additionally, the physics team is also capable of determining how solutes go about completing their microscopic functions, in their natural environment at room temperature and normal pressure. Using soft X-ray radiation to study these event has until now proven to be impossible, but the HZB innovation made it a reality.

The German team was lead by HZB expert Emad Aziz, who was also the author of a new paper accompanying the findings. The researchers detail their investigation in the August 8 online issue of the esteemed scientific journal Nature Chemistry. “We can observe where the charges migrate to, and we can see that this happens within a few femtoseconds,” the team leader says. The investigation was conducted using synchrotron light produced at the X-ray source BESSY II, e! Science News reports.