Electron transfer via the surface state

In addition to redox reactions due to the direct transfer of electrons and holes via the conduction and valence bands, the transfer of redox electrons and holes via the surface states may also proceed at semiconductor electrodes on which surface states exist as shown in Fig. 8-31. Such transfer of redox electrons or holes involves the transition of electrons or holes between the conduction or valence band and the surface states, which can be either an exothermic or endothermic process occurring between two different energy levels. This transition of electrons or holes is followed by the transfer of electrons or holes across the interface of electrodes, which is an adiabatic process taking place at the same electron level between the surface states and the redox particles. 

We now consider a cathodic transfer of electrons from the conduction band of electrode to the vacant redox electron level in a hydrated oxidant particle to form a hydrated reductant particle in solution OX , + ecB- RED . Equation 8-72 expresses this reaction current, due to the direct transfer of electrons from the conduction band to the oxidant particle based on Eqn. 8-61 as follows  

On the other hand, the cathodic reaction current, im, via the siuface state is given by Eqn. 8-73  

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