Marcus Electron Transfer Reactions with Bulk Metallic Catalysis

TL;DR

This paper explores how bulk metallic catalysis influences electron transfer reactions by considering both mechanical and electrodynamic interface fields, revealing the catalytic role of metals without thermodynamic change.

Contribution

It introduces the impact of electrodynamic interface fields on electron transfer rates near metallic plates, extending Marcus theory to include electromagnetic effects.

Findings

Electrodynamic interface fields significantly affect reaction rates.

Metallic plates act as purely catalytic agents without changing thermodynamic states.

Mechanical oscillations and electrodynamic effects jointly influence electron transfer.

Abstract

Electron transfer organic reaction rates are considered employing the classic physical picture of Marcus wherein the heats of reaction are deposited as the energy of low frequency mechanical oscillations of reconfigured molecular positions. If such electron transfer chemical reaction events occur in the neighborhood of metallic plates, then electrodynamic interface fields must also be considered in addition to mechanical oscillations. Such electrodynamic interfacial electric fields in principle strongly effect the chemical reaction rates. The thermodynamic states of the metal are unchanged by the reaction which implies that metallic plates are purely catalytic chemical agents.