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Electron Spin Resonance Evidence for a Trapped Electron and its Reversible Reaction in Gamma-irradiated Acetonitrile-d3

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the effect of ionizing radiation is known to produce solvated and trapped electrons in a variety of liquid and glassy systems, we are not aware of any reports on the radiation-induced formation of localized electrons in molecular crystals. Bennett, Mile and Thomas1 have observed electron spin resonance (ESR) and optical absorption spectra of trapped electrons in polycrystalline ice, but the method of preparation in this case was to deposit water vapour and alkali metals together on the rotating drum of a cryostat at 77° K. A very interesting feature of this work1 was the observation of hyperfine splitting in the ESR spectrum of the trapped electron as the temperature of a potassium–water sample was raised to 173° K. The seven hyperfine lines have been attributed to the interaction of the trapped electron writh six equivalent protons in an octahedral arrangement.

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References

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BONIN, M., TSUJI, K. & WILLIAMS, F. Electron Spin Resonance Evidence for a Trapped Electron and its Reversible Reaction in Gamma-irradiated Acetonitrile-d3. Nature 218, 946–948 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/218946a0

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