Electron localization in liquid water: A computer simulation study of microscopic trapping sites

Abstract

Sites at which excess electrons in pure water at 10 °C could become initially localized and subsequently rapidly solvated are identified by scanning a molecular dynamics simulation of pure equilibrium ST2 water with a test charge. Very favorable sites with respect to both volume and electrostatic potential are found in relatively high number density. Although the observed distribution of large cavities spans a wide range with respect to the electrostatic potential at the cavity centers, the calculated potential energy at the most favorable sites is almost as large as the apparent hydration energy of the electron in the equilibrated state.