On the ionization potential of a solute molecule in hydrocarbon solutions: Effect of temperature and phase

It is shown that the ionization potential I of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylparaphenylenediamine (TMPD) dissolved in several hydrocarbons is constant in the solid phase from 77 K up to the melting point T_M and suffers an abrupt decrease at this temperature ranging from 0.65 eV for tetramethylsilane to 0.42 eV for n-hexane. The meaning of the I jump at T_M is discussed. From the invariance of I, it is concluded that the energy of the excess electron, V₀, is constant in the solid phase.