Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.109, No.5, 1703-1707, 2005
Method for the evaluation of the reorganization energy of electron transfer reactions produced under restricted geometry conditions
The kinetics of the electron transfer reactions between S2O82- and the complexes (Ru(NH3)(5)L)(2+) (L = pyridine, pyrazine, and 4-cyanopyridine) have been studied in micellar (SDS) solutions. A method for the evaluation of the reorganization energy of these reactions, based on the comparison of their rate constants, is proposed. From the results obtained, we concluded that the observed rate constants go through a minimum for the surfactant concentration in which the reorganization energy goes through a maximum. The method can be applied to any kind of restricted geometry conditions.