Polymer evolution of a sulfonated polysulfone membrane as a function of ion beam irradiation fluence

Ion beam irradiation was used to modify the surface of a sulfonated polysulfone water treatment membrane. A beam of 25 keV H⁺ ions with three irradiation fluences (1 × 10¹³ ions/cm², 5 × 10¹³ ions/cm², and 1 × 10¹⁴ ions/cm²) was used for membrane irradiation. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analyses were performed on the virgin and irradiated membranes in order to determine the changes to chemical structure incurred by ion beam irradiation. The results show that some of the sulphonic and CH bonds were broken and new CS bonds were formed after irradiation. Atomic force microscope (AFM) analyses show that membrane roughness decreased after irradiation. A significant increase in flux after ion beam irradiation was also observed, while the amount of cake accumulation on the membrane was decreased after ion beam irradiation. Hydrophobicity, pore size distribution and selectivity of the membrane were not affected by ion beam irradiation.     

Mass spectrometry investigation of the degradation of polyethylene terephtalate induced by low-energy (<100 eV) electrons

Polyethylene terephtalate (PET) thin films were damaged by low-energy (0–100 eV) electron irradiation to simulate the degradation of this polymer in electronic devices. The products formed were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The emission of anions from the polymer surface is associated with dissociative electron attachment (DEA) and dipolar dissociation (DD) for H⁻, and with DD for O⁻. The monotonic emission rise in O⁻ desorption as a function of incident electron energy is produced by mid-chain C–O–C cleavage, leading to chain scission. The signal of the positive mass fragments showed only a monotonic increase with electron energy. In this case, chemical recombination with hydrogen atoms also leads to chain scission.     

Experimental determination of the Stark widths of Pb I spectral lines in a laser-induced plasma

Stark widths of 34 spectral lines of Pb I have been measured in a Laser-Induced-Plasma (LIP). The optical emission spectroscopy from a LIP generated by a 10 640 Å radiation, with an irradiance of 1.4 × 10¹⁰ W cm^− 2 on a Sn–Pb target in an atmosphere of argon was analyzed between 1900 and 7000 Å. The Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) conditions and plasma homogeneity have been checked. The 34 spectral lines measured in this paper correspond to the transitions n(n = 7, 8)s→6p², n(n = 6, 7)d→6p². The population levels distribution and the corresponding temperatures were obtained using Boltzmann plots. The plasma electron densities were determined using well-known Stark broadening parameters of spectral lines. Special attention was dedicated to the possible self-absorption of the different transitions. Stark broadening parameters of the spectral lines were measured at 2.5 µs after each laser light pulse, where the electron temperature was close to 11 200 K and the electron density to 10¹⁶ cm^− 3. The experimental results obtained have been compared with the experimental values given by other authors.     

All electron ab initio investigations of the electronic states of the MoN molecule

The low lying electronic states of the molecule MoN were investigated by performing all electron ab initio multi-configuration self-consistent-field (CASSCF) calculations. The relativistic corrections for the one electron Darwin contact term and the relativistic mass-velocity correction were determined in perturbation calculations. The electronic ground state is confirmed as being ⁴∑⁻. The chemical bond of MoN has a triple bond character because of the approximately fully occupied delocalized bonding π and σ orbitals. The spectroscopic constants for the ground state and ten excited states were derived. The excited doublet states ²∑⁻, ²Γ, ²Δ, and ²∑⁺ are found to be lower lying than the ⁴Π state that was investigated experimentally. Elaborate multi-configuration configuration-interaction (MRCI) calculations were carried out for the states ⁴∑⁻ and ⁴∏ using various basis sets. The spectroscopic constants for the ⁴∑⁻ ground state were determined as r_e=1.636 Å and ω_e=1109 cm⁻¹, and for the ⁴∏ state as r_e=1.662 Å and ω_e=941 cm⁻¹. The values for the ground state are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. The MoN molecule is polar with a charge transfer from Mo to N. The dipole moment was determined as 2.11 D in the ⁴∑⁻ state and as 4.60 D in the ⁴∏ state. These values agree well with the revised experimental values determined from molecular Stark spectroscopic measurements. The dissociation energy, D_e, is determined as 5.17 eV, and D₀ as 5.10 eV.     

The mechanism of perylene photo-oxidation in a water-soluble polymeric photocatalyst

The photo-oxidation of perylene in aqueous solutions of a polymeric photocatalyst was investigated to probe the mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation. Perylene and other hydrophobic molecules are efficiently solubilized in aqueous polymer solutions with distribution coefficients as high as 4 x 10⁶. The rate of perylene photo-oxidation was much more rapid in aqueous polymer solutions than in organic solvents. In organic solvents, ¹0₂ sensitizers (rose bengal) had little effect on the reaction, but electron acceptors, such as dicyanobenzene, caused an acceleration in rate. Naphthoquinone was suggested as a potential electron acceptor in the naphthalene-containing polymer, and it was shown to be formed in small concentrations by polymer oxidation. It was concluded that the polymer plays several key functions in perylene photo-oxidation: (1) solubilization of the hydrophobic molecule; (2) energy migration through the polymer coil and energy transfer, providing additional photochemical energy to the reactants; (3) the enhancement of oxidation by photoinduced electron transfer via provision of an electron acceptor and facilitation of charge separation.     

Study of the formation of bimetallic aqueous Tl/Cu sols by gamma and electron irradiation

The spectral characteristics of the bimetallic sols produced by gamma and electron irradiation of mixed solutions of Tl⁺–Cu²⁺ ions in different ratios have been studied in aqueous medium. The intermediate transient species have also been characterized by the technique of pulse radiolysis. The rate constant for the reaction of Cu²⁺ion with the Tl⁺ ion reduction species was founded by 4×10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹s⁻¹. Developmental absorption spectra in gamma radiolytic reduction of the mixed ions indicated reduction of Tl⁺ ion on the surface of small copper particles, resulting in bimetallic-sol with core of copper. The presence of a small concentration of Cu²⁺ ion was found to restrict the agglomeration process of thallium particles at near neutral pH conditions. The reducing capability of the bimetallic sols was found to be proportional to the thallium content in the sol. The observed UV–Vis spectra of the mixed Tl/Cu sols produced on electron irradiation showed much lower absorption in the higher wavelength region and were more close to that of the pure sol of the ion, present in higher concentration in the feed solution. Thus, the high dose rate-assisted stabilization of smaller thallium particles. Size of all these bimetallic sol particles was much less than 50 nm.     

Structures and energetics of C3H6S isomers: a Gaussian-3 ab initio study

Twenty-two isomers/conformers of C₃H₆S^+√ radical cations have been identified and their heats of formation (ΔH_f) at 0 and 298 K have been calculated using the Gaussian-3 (G3) method. Seven of these isomers are known and their ΔH_f data are available in the literature for comparison. The least energy isomer is found to be the thioacetone radical cation (4⁺) with C_2v symmetry. In contrast, the least energy C₃H₆O^+√ isomer is the 1-propen-2-ol radical cation. The G3 ΔH_f298 of 4⁺ is calculated to be 859.4 kJ mol⁻¹, ca. 38 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than the literature value, ≤821 kJ mol⁻¹. For allyl mercaptan radical cation (7⁺), the G3 ΔH_f298 is calculated to be 927.8 kJ mol⁻¹, also not in good agreement with the experimental estimate, 956 kJ mol⁻¹. Upon examining the experimental data and carrying out further calculations, it is shown that the G3 ΔH_f298 values for 4⁺ and 7⁺ should be more reliable than the compiled values. For the five remaining cations with available experimental thermal data, the agreement between the experimental and G3 results ranges from fair to excellent.

Cation CH₃CHSCH₂^+√ (10⁺) has the least energy among the eleven distonic radical cations identified. Their ΔH_f298 values range from 918 to 1151 kJ mol⁻¹. Nevertheless, only one of them, CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺), has been observed. Its G3 ΔH_f298 value is 980.9 kJ mol⁻¹, in fair agreement with the experimental result, 990 kJ mol⁻¹.

A couple of reactions involving C₃H₆S^+√ isomers CH₂=SCH₂CH₂^+√ (12⁺) and trimethylene sulfide radical cation (13⁺) have also been studied with the G3 method and the results are consistent with experimental findings.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in crystal violet (CV)–bovine serum albumin (BSA) system: evaluation of reaction paths and radical intermediates

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from excited probes attached to proteins is of considerable current interest. Photochemical processes following 532 nm excitation of triphenyl methane dye, crystal violet (CV⁺) bound to a protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), have been investigated in picosecond (ps) to microseconds (μs) time scales by flash photolysis technique. The excited singlet state lifetime of CV⁺ is found to be increased to 130 ps as compared to 1–5 ps for the unbound dye in low viscosity solvents. From flash photolysis studies in microsecond region, transient absorption in the region 650 nm is observed which is attributed to the dication radical CV√²⁺ formed by electron transfer from ³CV^+* to BSA, contrary to electron transfer from BSA to the excited dye as proposed in a recent report. Supporting spectral evidence for the electron transfer from ³CV^+* to BSA is obtained from pulse radiolysis studies.     

Micellar effects on photoinduced redox reactions of Fe(bpy)2(CN)2

Excitation of solutions of Fe(bipy)₂(CN)₂ by a 266-nm laser pulse produces a hydrated electron and the oxidized complex, Fe(bipy)₂ (CN)₂⁺, in the primary photochemical step, in homogeneous aqueous solution as well as in aqueous solutions containing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. In all cases nascent hydrated electrons react with ground state Fe(bipy)₂(CN)₂ to form Fe(bipy)₂(CN)₂⁻, and comparison of the decay constants in the three media (H₂O: k = 2.8 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; CTAB: k = 2.9 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹; SDS: k = 5.5 × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹), shows that the reaction is essentially unaffected by CTAB micelles but is much slower in SDS solution. Similar micellar effects were found for the back reaction between e_aq⁻ and Fe(bpy)₂(CN)₂⁺. Rate constants for the scavenging of the photogenerated hydrated electrons by methyl viologen (MV²⁺) cations and NO₃⁻ anions were measured in the three systems, and the results indicate that for scavenging by MV²⁺ the rate constants are decreased in the micelle systems (k in H₂O, 8.4 × 10¹⁰; CTAB, 3.5 × 10¹⁰ and SDS, 1.58 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹), whereas for NO₃⁻ the CTAB micelle decreases while the SDS micelle enhances the scavenging compared to water solution (k in H₂O, 8.3 × 10⁹; CTAB, 7 × 10⁸; and SDS, 2.05 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). For the comproportionation reaction between Fe(bipy)₂(CN)₂⁺ and Fe(bipy)₂(CN)₂⁻ both micelles reduce the rate (k in H₂O, 3.3 × 10¹⁰; CTAB, 2.3 × 10¹⁰; and SDS, 1.05 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹s⁻¹), but while the reaction of Fe(bipy)₂(CN)₂⁺ with MV⁺ is increased in CTAB compared to water, it is slowed in SDS (k in H₂O, 2.4 × 10¹⁰; CTAB, 8.9 × 10¹⁰; and SDS, 1.8 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹s⁻¹). All effects observed in these microheterogeneous systems can be uniformly interpreted in terms of Coulombic interactions between the actual reactants and the charged surface of the micelles.     

Three-dimensional polymer gel dosimetry: basic physical properties of the dosimeter

This study concentrated on assessment of the basic physical properties of a polymer gel dosimeter evaluated by NMR. For this, BANG-2 type polymer gel was prepared. The dosimeters were irradiated by ⁶⁰Co gamma photons and by 4, 6 and 18 MV X-ray photons for doses in the range 0–50 Gy. The multi-echo CPMG sequence was used for the evaluation of T₂-relaxation times in the irradiated gel dosimeters. Dependence of 1/T₂ in terms of the following factors was studied: absorbed dose, energy of applied radiation, temperature during NMR evaluation, time between irradiation and NMR evaluation and strength of the magnetic field. An exponential dependence of the 1/T₂ response on absorbed dose in the range 0–50 Gy was observed, while in the range 0–10 Gy the data could be fitted by a linear function. This paper also describes the dependence of 1/T₂ response on: radiation energy, strength of magnetic field and time from irradiation of the dosimeters to NMR evaluation. Increase of gel dosimeter 1/T₂ response with the decrease of the temperature during NMR evaluation has been qantitatively described. The polymer gel dosimetry system used in this study proved that it is a reliable system for three-dimensional dose distribution measurement.     

The use of ESR spectroscopy for the investigation of dosimetric properties of egg shells

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the dosimetric properties of chicken egg shells. The ESR spectra of the irradiated egg shell were found to have an asymmetric absorption characterized by a major resonance at g=2.0019 and a minor resonance at g_||=1.9980. The study was carried out on g=2.0019 signal because of the accuracy of measurements and the possibility of using it as ESR dosimeter. The activation energy (E), frequency factor (k₀) and mean-life (τ) were calculated to be 1.50±0.10 eV, 2×10¹³ s⁻¹ and (4.4±0.4)×10⁴ year respectively. Dose–response was investigated between dose ranges of 1 Gy and 10 kGy for ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. Dose–response was found to be appropriate for dosimetry in the range 3 Gy to 10 kGy. The lower limit of observable doses for egg shell sample was about 3 Gy. The other ESR dosimetric parameters of egg shell samples, fading characteristic, light effect, dose-rate dependence and energy dependence, have also been studied in detail. Apart from its non-tissue equivalence, egg shell has very good dosimetric properties with insignificant fading, light independence, linearity in dose–response (3 Gy–10 kGy), dose-rate independence and independence from energy above 500 keV. It suggests that egg shell may be used as a retrospective γ radiation dosimetry after nuclear accidents or other short accidental radiation events.     

Mechanism for resonant O electron stimulated desorption from condensed O2. Non-adiabatic transitions and dynamics

Absolute kinetic energy distributions and yields associated with ground state ³P and excited state ¹D oxygen atoms have been obtained for O⁻ anion electron stimulated desorption from condensed O₂ in the electron energy range 6–15 eV. The observed yields are understood as resulting essentially from dissociative electron attachment reactions via the two lowest ²Σ⁺_g O⁻₂ resonance states through adiabatic and non-adiabatic transitions to the limits O⁻(²P) + O(³P) and O⁻(²P) + O(¹D). The kinetic energy distributions show the prominent role of electron multiple collision processes and post-dissociation interactions of the O⁻ anions in the condensed phase.     

Fast, low-level detection of strontium-90 and strontium-89 in environmental samples by collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy

Environmental assessment in the wake of a nuclear accident requires the rapid determination of the radiotoxic isotopes ⁸⁹Sr and ⁹⁰Sr. Useful measurements must be able to detect 10⁸ atoms in the presence of about 10¹⁸ atoms of the stable, naturally occurring isotopes. This paper describes a new approach to this problem using resonance ionization spectroscopy in collinear geometry, combined with classical mass separation. After collection and chemical separation, the strontium from a sample is surface-ionized and the ions are accelerated to an energy of about 30 keV. Initially, a magnetic mass separator provides an isotopic selectivity of about 10⁶. The ions are then neutralized by charge exchange and the resulting fast strontium atoms are selectively excited into high-lying atomic Rydberg states by narrow-band cw laser light in collinear geometry. The Rydberg atoms are then field-ionized and detected. Thus far, a total isotopic selectivity of S > 10¹⁰ and an overall efficiency of ξ = 5 × 10⁻⁶ have been achieved. The desired detection limit of 10⁸ atoms ⁹⁰Sr has been demonstrated with synthetic samples.     

Highly efficient blue up-conversion of Tm in Nd–Yb–Tm co-doped ZrF4-based fluoride glass

Up-conversion luminescence and energy-transfer processes in Nd³⁺, Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺ co-doped ZrF₄-based fluoride glasses have been studied under 800 nm light excitation. Blue up-converted emission around 478 nm which can be assigned to the Tm³⁺:¹G₄→³H₆ transition, was strongly observed. Up-conversion luminescence intensity exhibited an YbF₃-concentration dependence. Among the Nd³⁺, Yb³⁺ and Tm³⁺, Nd³⁺ and Tm³⁺ have ground state absorption bands due to the (²H_9/2,⁴F_5/2)←⁴I_9/2 and ³F₄←³H₆ transitions, respectively, which can be directly pumped by 800 nm radiation. However, no emissions were observed in Tm³⁺ singly-doped and Tm³⁺–Yb³⁺ doubly-doped glasses under 800 nm excitation. Therefore, a possible up-conversion mechanism may be proposed as follows: energy-transfer firstly occurs from Nd³⁺ to Yb³⁺ when Nd³⁺ is excited by 800 nm light, then the energy is transferred from Yb³⁺ to Tm³⁺ which is in the excited state and, finally, blue up-conversion emission of Tm³⁺ is observed through the Tm³⁺:¹G₄→³H₆ transition.     

Carbon ion irradiation induced surface modification of polypropylene

Polypropylene was irradiated with ¹²C ions of 3.6 and 5.4 MeV energies in the fluence range of 5×10¹³–5×10¹⁴ ions/cm² using 3 MV tandem accelerator. Ion penetration was limited to a few microns and surface modifications were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. At the lowest ion fluence only blister formation of various sizes (1–6 μm) were observed, but at higher fluence (1×10¹⁴ ions/cm²) a three-dimensional network structure was found to form. A gradual degradation in the network structure was observed with further increase in the ion fluence. The dose dependence of the changes on surface morphology of polypropylene is discussed.     

Pyramidane 2. Further computational studies: potential energy surface, basicity and acidity, electron-withdrawing and electron-donating power, ionization energy and electron affinity, heat of formation and strain energy, and NMR chemical shifts

The novel cycloalkane pyramidane (tetracyclo[2.1.0.0^1,30^2,5]pentane, [3.3.3.3]fenestrane), C₅H₄, with a pyramidal carbon atom, was investigated further. Calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G^* and G2(MP2) levels supported earlier conclusions from QCISD(T)/6-31G^*//MP2(FC)/6-31G^* energies that pyramidane lies in a deep well (ca. 100 kJ mol⁻¹) on the potential energy surface. The pyramidal carbon is predicted to have a lone electron pair, and calculations (CBS-4) indicate that pyramidane is remarkably basic for a saturated hydrocarbon (proton affinity 976, cf. 922 and 915 kJ mol⁻¹ for pyridine and aniline, respectively). The calculated (CBS-4) acidity is similar to that of tetrahedrane and toluene; the pyramidyl group (C₅H₃) attached to an atom bearing a lone electron pair appears to be much more strongly electron-withdrawing than the phenyl group. The infrared CO stretching frequency and C–CHO rotational barriers of pyramCHO, PhCHO and cyclopropylCHO indicate that the pyramidyl group is comparable to phenyl and cyclopropyl in its ability to donate electrons to an electron-deficient carbon. The adiabatic ionization energy of pyramidane is ca. 9.0 eV (MP2/6-31G^*, energy differences and Koopmans’ theorem), similar to that of typical cycloalkanes. The heat of formation of pyramidane was calculated by the G2(MP2) method and isodesmic reactions to be to be 585 kJ mol⁻¹ and the strain energy was estimated to be 622 kJ mol⁻¹; pyramidane is 122 kJ mol⁻¹ more strained than its isomer spiropentadiene. Application of the NMR NICS method, varying the position of the probe nucleus, gave no evidence for benzenoid-type aromaticity in the potentially cyclobutadiene cation-like base of pyramidane.     

Unexpected photo-initiated oxidation of antimony in (tetra-tert-butyl)phthalocyaninatoantimony(III) complex in the presence of singlet oxygen acceptors

The title complex cation, [Sb(tbpc)]⁺ (where tbpc denotes tetra(tert-butyl)phthalocyaninate, C₄₈H₄₈N₈²⁻), was gradually bleached under irradiation with visible light (900 > λ/nm > 600) in aerated nonaqueous solvents, such as CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, benzene, chlorobenzene. On the other hand, irradiation under the same conditions but in the presence of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) caused slow oxidation of [Sb(tbpc)]⁺ to the corresponding antimony(V) derivatives, [Sb(tbpc)LL′]⁺, (L and L′ denote monoanionic axial ligands containing oxygen as the donor atom), which was monitored by optical absorption and ESI-MS spectra of the photolyzed solutions. Both the photobleaching and oxidation have efficiently been inhibited by preliminary addition of β-carotene in photolyzed solutions, indicating that photosensitization of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) by [Sb(tbpc)]⁺ itself is involved. The use of furans (except dibenzofuran) or oxazoles instead of DPBF gave rise to similar oxidation but not in the case of the other type ¹O₂-acceptors, such as 9,10-diphenylanthracene, tetraphenylcyclopentadienone, or 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, indicating that formation of ozonide-type endo-peroxide through 1,4-cycloaddition with ¹O₂ is essential. Peroxides, such as EtOOH and H₂O₂, generated through nucleophilic attack to the ozonide by EtOH and H₂O (present in the solvent) respectively, are considered to oxidize [Sb(tbpc)]⁺ to the antimony(V) species. Photochemistry of antimony–phthalocyanine complex has been studied for the first time of pnicogen derivatives of phthalocyanine.     

A Gaussian-2 ab initio study of [C2H5S] ions: III. H2 and CH4 eliminations from CH3CHSH and CH3SCH2

Gaussian-2 ab initio calculations were performed to examine the six modes of unimolecular dissociation of cis-CH₃CHSH⁺ (1⁺), trans-CH₃CHSH⁺ (2⁺), and CH₃SCH₂⁺ (3⁺): 1⁺→CH₃⁺+trans-HCSH (1); 1⁺→CH₃+trans-HCSH⁺ (2); 1⁺→CH₄+HCS⁺ (3); 1⁺→H₂+c-CH₂CHS⁺ (4); 2⁺→H₂+CH₃CS⁺ (5); and 3⁺→H₂+c-CH₂CHS⁺ (6). Reactions (1) and (2) have endothermicities of 584 and 496 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Loss of CH₄ from 1⁺ (reaction (3)) proceeds through proton transfer from the S atom to the methyl group, followed by cleavage of the C–C bond. The reaction pathway has an energy barrier of 292 kJ mol⁻¹ and a transition state with a wide spectrum of nonclassical structures. Reaction (4) has a critical energy of 296 kJ mol⁻¹ and it also proceeds through the same proton transfer step as reaction (3), followed by elimination of H_2. Formation of CH₃CS⁺ from 2⁺ (reaction (5)) by loss of H₂ proceeds through protonation of the methine (CH) group, followed by dissociation of the H₂ moiety. Its energy barrier is 276 kJ mol⁻¹. On both the MP2/6-31G* and QCISD/6-31G* potential-energy surfaces, the H₂ 1,1-elimination from 3⁺ (reaction (6)) proceeds via a nonclassical intermediate resembling c-CH₃SCH₂⁺ and has a critical energy of 269 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Radiation yield of oxygen-based radicals in hyperquenched glassy water gamma-irradiated at 77 K

Hyperquenching of liquid water with cooling rates of 10⁶–10⁷ K s⁻¹ yields glassy water. Upon γ-irradiation at 77 K, the only paramagnetic species accumulating in hyperquenched glassy water are the hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals. There are no hydrogen atoms or electrons seen by the ESR technique. For irradiation doses up to about 70 kGy, the relative contributions of hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals to the total amount of paramagnetic species remain virtually constant. The total amount of paramagnetic species, n, is sublinear in dose, d, well approximated by n=8.55×10¹⁶d^0.8 for n in spin g⁻¹ and d in kGy.     

Femtosecond dynamics of electron transfer in a neutral organic mixed-valence compound

In this article we report a femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption study of a neutral organic mixed-valence (MV) compound with the aim to gain insight into its charge-transfer dynamics upon optical excitation. The back-electron transfer was investigated in five different solvents, toluene, dibutyl ether, methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE), benzonitrile and n-hexane. In the pump step, the molecule was excited at 760 nm and 850 nm into the intervalence charge-transfer band. The resulting transients can be described by two time constant. We assign one time constant to the rearrangement of solvent molecules in the charge-transfer state and the second time constant to back-electron transfer to the electronic ground state. Back-electron transfer rates range from 1.5 × 10¹² s⁻¹ in benzonitrile through 8.3 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹ in MTBE, around 1.6 × 10¹¹ s⁻¹ in dibutylether and toluene and to 3.8 × 10⁹ s⁻¹ in n-hexane.