Environmental Effects on Rates of Electron Transfer

The solid-state structure of the photosynthetic reaction centre complexes has inspired several studies of light-induced electron transfer in solid media. A particularly useful medium is provided by porous glass which facilitates rapid electron-transfer reactions without the involvement of polar solvents. Solid matrices suitable for light-induced electron-transfer processes are also provided by silica, zeolites, and clays. A theoretical description has been reported for dealing with the distribution of separation distances between donor and acceptor that is often found in the solid state.  

A long-held ambition is to selectively control the rates of electron transfer by external perturbation of the system. Continued attempts to engineer appropriate systems have used strong magnetic or electricaP fields to provide the perturbation. Quite pronounced electric field effects have been reported, although a detailed interpretation is difficult. 

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