Ultrafast electron dynamics at ice-metal interfaces: Competition between heterogeneous electron transfer and solvation

A study was conducted to obtain insight into the mechanisms of heterogeneous electron transfer by a combined investigation of electron solvation and interfacial charge transfer at the water-metal interface. Electrons are photoinjected from the metal substrate into the utrathin ice layer where they localize and form solvated electrons, and as a result of the subsequent dynamical evolution of the molecular environment, a solvation shell and a potential barrier surrounding the electron, which decouples the electron from the metal, are formed.