Observation of the Solvent Shell Reorganization around Photoexcited Atomic Solutes by Picosecond X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

We report on the observation of the solvation shell rearrangement after abstraction of the electron from aq. I- in a laser pump/X-ray probe expt. by recording the X-ray absorption L1- and L3-edge spectra, 50 ps after laser excitation. The L1-edge spectra clearly identify the I0 neutral species after excitation and suggest a substantial amt. of back-transfer of charge from the solvent species. Both edge spectra point to a significant rearrangement of the solvation shell around I0. [on SciFinder (R)]