Abstract
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Cluster-size-resolved
ultrafast dynamics of the solvated electron
in neutral water clusters with n = 3 to ∼200
molecules are studied with pump–probe time-of-flight mass spectrometry
after below band gap excitation. For the smallest clusters, no longer-lived
(>100–200 fs) hydrated electrons were detected, indicating
a minimum size of n ∼ 14 for being able to
sustain hydrated electrons. Larger clusters show a systematic increase
of the number of hydrated electrons per molecule on the femtosecond
to picosecond time scale. We propose that with increasing cluster
size the underlying dynamics is governed by more effective electron
formation processes combined with less effective electron loss processes,
such as ultrafast hydrogen ejection and recombination. It appears
unlikely that any size dependence of the solvent relaxation dynamics
would be reflected in the observed time-resolved ion yields.
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