Nanosecond laser measurements of optical absorption coefficients of electrons in polar fluids

Direct measurements of the optical absorption coefficients of the short-lived electrons in polar fluids have been made. Laser-induced photoionization of pyrene in alcohols at 293 K generated equal numbers of electrons (e_s^?) and pyrene positive ions (P⁺). The ?_max(e_s^?) were derived by measuring the relative absorption intensities of e_s^? and P⁺, which had been independently characterised. The ?_max values for e_s^? in methanol to 1-decanol fell within the range (1.0–2.0) × 10⁴ M^?1 cm^?1, the implications of which are discussed.