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Rate dependence of electron transfer on donor-acceptor separation and on free enthalpy change. The Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup 2 +//viologen/sup 2 +/ system

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100402a042· OSTI ID:5568809
By attachment of hydrocarbon chains of different lengths to the bipyridyl ligands in Ru(bpy)/sub 3//sup 2 +/ we have adjusted the donor-acceptor separation in the electron-transfer system Ru((C/sub n/H/sub 2n+1/)/sub 2/bpyl/sub 3//sup 2 +//methylviolgen. Two electron-transfer reactions with different ..delta..G are investigated in fluid solution: the quenching of the excited complexes by methylviologen (MV/sup 2 +/) which is exergonic with -0.4 eV and the thermal back electron transfer which is exergonic with -1.7 eV. We observe an exponential decrease of the quenching rate on distance. The back electron transfer is independent of donor-acceptor separation; electron transfer is found to take place at distances of 1.5 nm and more. The results are discussed in terms of a hypothesis on the interdependence of transfer distance and free enthalpy change and compared with current theories. In the framework of the simple classical Marcus model, the Marcus equation relating transfer rate and free enthalpy change is transposed into the Rehm-Weller equation by simple mathematical manipulations and the implications of this are discussed.
Research Organization:
Universitaet Hohenheim, Stuttgart, West Germany
OSTI ID:
5568809
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 90:11; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English