Marcus—Levich theory

Theoretical analysis of (2.5.1) based on the Marcus-Levich charge-transfer theory can be found in [34]. 

Figure 2.1 (Plate 2.1) shows a classification of the processes that we consider they aU involve interaction of the reactants both with the solvent and with the metal electrode. In simple outer sphere electron transfer, the reactant is separated from the electrode by at least one layer of solvent hence, the interaction with the metal is comparatively weak. This is the realm of the classical theories of Marcus [1956], Hush [1958], Levich [1970], and German and Dogonadze [1974]. Outer sphere transfer can also involve the breaking of a bond (Fig. 2. lb), although the reactant is not in direct contact with the metal. In inner sphere processes (Fig. 2. Ic, d) the reactant is in contact with the electrode depending on the electronic structure of the system, the electronic interaction can be weak or strong. Naturally, catalysis involves a strong...

Attempts were made to quantitatively treat the elementary process in electrode reactions since the 1920s by J. A. V. Butler (the transfer of a metal ion from the solution into a metal lattice) and by J. Horiuti and M. Polanyi (the reduction of the oxonium ion with formation of a hydrogen atom adsorbed on the electrode). In its initial form, the theory of the elementary process of electron transfer was presented by R. Gurney, J. B. E. Randles, and H. Gerischer. Fundamental work on electron transfer in polar media, namely, in a homogeneous redox reaction as well as in the elementary step in the electrode reaction was made by R. A. Marcus (Nobel Prize for Chemistry, 1992), R. R. Dogonadze, and V. G. Levich. 

Table 6.6 lists some reactions of the electron in water, ammonia, and alcohols. These are not exhaustive, but have been chosen for the sake of analyzing reaction mechanisms. Only three alcohols—methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol—are included where intercomparison can be effected. On the theoretical side, Marcus (1965a, b) applied his electron transfer concept (Marcus, 1964) to reactions of es. The Russian school simultaneously pursued the topic vigorously (Levich, 1966 Dogonadze et al, 1969 Dogonadze, 1971 Vorotyntsev et al, 1970 see also Schmidt, 1973). Kestner and Logan (1972) pointed out the similarity between the Marcus theory and the theories of the Russian school. The experimental features of eh reactions have been detailed by Hart and Anbar (1970), and a review of various es reactions has been presented by Matheson (1975). Bolton and Freeman (1976) have discussed solvent effects on es reaction rates in water and in alcohols. 

The theoretical aspects of electron transfer mechanisms in aqueous solution have received considerable attention in the last two decades. The early successes of Marcus Q, 2), Hush (3, 4), and Levich (5) have stimulated the development of a wide variety of more detailed models, including those based on simple transition state theory, as well as more elaborate semi-clas-sical and quantum mechanical models (6-12). 

Another approach to ET reactions originated in the work of Weiss and Libby, who suggested that activation energy for ET reactions in solution does not arise from the collisional-vibrational or electrostatic interaction of the solvent in the first and second solvation sphere, but rather from continuum solvent polarization fluctuation far out in solution. This approach, called continuum theory, was further developed by Kubo and Toyozawa, " Marcus, Platzmann and Erank, and by Levich and Dogo-nadze. ... 

Muenter, Gilman, Lenhard, and Penner (279) have reinterpreted Hailstone s results along these lines. They showed that a plot of activation energies versus Lenhard s reversible potentials for the dyes that inject electrons from their initially excited states could be fit to the form predicted by the electron transfer theory of Marcus and Levich ... 

Some notions of the mechanism of electron transfer were given in Section 4.2. Any theory must be realistic and take into account the reorientation of the ionic atmosphere in mathematical terms. There have been many contributions in this area, especially by Marcus, Hush, Levich, Dog-nadze, and others5-9. The theories have been of a classical or quantum-mechanical nature, the latter being more difficult to develop but more correct. It is fundamental that the theories permit quantitative comparison between rates of electron transfer in electrodes and in homogeneous solution. 

During the last 30 years, a number of theories on electron transfer processes have been published by Gerischer [1, 5], Marcus [2], Levich [4] and Dogonadze [3,82]. Especially the models and theories developed by Marcus and Gerischer are applied for electrochemical reactions at metal and semiconductor electrodes by many other scientists. On the basis of these theories, the electron flux or interfacial currents can be derived as follows ... 

Russell and Jaenicke [115] investigated the electroreduction of p-benzoquinone to the radical, in several solvents. They tried to explain their kinetic results, after correction for the double-layer influence, by the Marcus theory. Only in some of the applied solvents was an agreement with that theory observed. Earlier, Sharp [179] had studied several quinonoidic compounds at Pt and Au electrodes. Measurements were carried out in AN, DMF, DMSO and PC. Discrepancies between experimental data and the Marcus and Levich-Dogonadze theory were discussed qualitatively in terms of reactant and solvent structures. 

Aj may be evaluated from x-ray and infrared (IR) data or from theoretical calculations. However, for organic outer sphere electron transfers, this contribution is usually much smaller than Ao. In our opinion one of the greatest merits of the Marcus [43] and Levich-Dogonadze [44] theories is that they allow rather correct predictions of Aq through simple equations. Thus for most outer sphere electron transfers, reasonably accurate values of the rate constants can be predicted. 

It is curious that the striking deviations of electrochemical kinetic behavior from that expected conventionally, which are the subject of this review, have not been recognized or treated in the recent quantum-mechanical approaches, e.g., of Levich et al (e.g., see Refs. 66 and 105) to the interpretation of electrode reaction rates. The reasons for this may be traced to the emphasis which is placed in such treatments on (1) quantal effects in the energy of the system and (2) continuum modeling of the solution with consequent neglect of the specific solvational- and solvent-structure aspects that can lead, in aqueous media, to the important entropic factor in the kinetics and in other interactions in water solutions. However, the work of Hupp and Weaver, referred to on p. 153, showed that the results could be interpreted in terms of Marcus theory, with regard to potential dependence of AS, when there was a substantial net reaction entropy change in the process. 

For outer sphere electron transfer reactions the Butler-Volmer law rests on solid experimental and theoretical evidence. An outer sphere electron transfer reaction is the simplest possible case of an electron transfer reaction, a reaction where only an electron is exchanged, no bonds are broken, the reactants are not specifically adsorbed, and catalysts play no role (see, e.g.. Ref. 2). Experimental investigations such as those by Curtiss et al. [206] have shown that the transfer coefficient of simple electron transfer reactions is independent of temperature. The theoretical basis is given by the theories of Marcus [207] and of Levich and Dogonadze [208] these theories also predict deviations at high overpotentials which were experimentally confirmed [209, 210]. 

The basic idea of the theory of electron-transfer concerning the dynamic role of the solvent, first suggested by LIBBI /150/, has been developed by MARCUS /40a/ for outer-sphere redox processes on the basis of a classical continuum model for solvent polarization. A quantum-mechanical treatment of the same model was done by LEVICH and DO-GONADZE /40b,143/, making use of the theory of non-adiabatic radiationless electron transfer in polar crystals. 

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