Real-Time Observation of Solvation Dynamics of Electron in Actinide Extraction Binary Solutions of Water and n-Tributyl Phosphate

The excess electron in solution is a highly reactive radical involved in various radiation-induced reactions. Its solvation state critically determines the subsequent pathway and rate of transfer. For instance, water plays a dominating role in the electron-induced dealkylation of n-tributyl phosphate in actinide extraction processing. However, the underlying electron solvation processes in such systems are lacking. Herein, we directly observed the solvation dynamics of electrons in H-bonded water and n-tributyl phosphate (TBP) binary solutions with a mole fraction of water (Xw) varying from 0.05 to 0.51 under ambient conditions. Following the evolution of the absorption spectrum of trapped electrons (not fully solvated) with picosecond resolution, we show that electrons statistically distributed would undergo preferential solvation within water molecules extracted in TBP. We determine the time scale of excess electron full solvation from the deconvoluted transient absorption-kinetical data. The process of solvent reorganization accelerates by increasing the water molar fraction, and the rate of this process is 2 orders of magnitude slower compared to bulk water. We assigned the solvation process to hydrogen network reorientation induced by a negative charge of the excess electron that strongly depends on the local water environment. Our findings suggest that water significantly stabilizes the electron in a deeper potential than the pure TBP case. In its new state, the electron is likely to inhibit the dealkylation of extractants in actinide separation.