Hydrated Electron Dynamics: From Clusters to Bulk

Key Points

• This research aims to study the electronic relaxation dynamics of hydrated electrons in size-selected water clusters.
• Time-resolved photoelectron imaging was utilized to observe the dynamics of hydrated electron clusters.
• Excitation of excess electrons was achieved using ultrafast laser pulses, monitored through photodetachment and photoelectron imaging.
• Clusters of varying sizes with n ranging from 25 to 50 were examined.
• The lifetimes for (H2O)n- clusters ranged from 180 to 130 femtoseconds, decreasing with increased cluster size.
• For (D2O)n- clusters, lifetimes were observed from 400 to 225 femtoseconds, also decreasing with size.
• Results supporting the nonadiabatic relaxation mechanism indicate an internal conversion lifetime of 50 femtoseconds for the bulk hydrated electron.