Correlation between the electron solvation time and the solvent dielectric relaxation times τ2 and τL1 in liquid alcohols and water: towards a universal concept of electron solvation?

Abstract

A simple model of electron solvation in polar liquids is presented, in which we attempt to link the electron solvation time τs to τ2, the time for reorientation of monomeric molecules, and to τL1, the longitudinal dielectric relaxation time of the solvent. It is shown that this model, which is suggested by the so-called hybrid model of electron solvation previously described for methanol, can satisfactorily account for electron solvation in all polar liquids, including linear alcohols (methanol to decanol), 1,2-ethanediol, H2O, and D2O, for which data are available from the literature. A close similarity is indeed obtained between our calculated values of τs and those measured experimentally. The observation of such a correlation supports a universal concept of electron solvation. Keywords: polar liquids, electron solvation time, solvent dielectric relaxation times, universal concept of electron solvation.