Photoemission of Electrons from Metals into Electrolyte Solutions

Photoemission of electrons from a metal into an electrolyte solution occurs when the metal is irradiated with sufficiently energetic light quanta through a layer of the solution. The emitted electrons become solvated and take part in various chemical and electrochemical reactions. Hence, photoemission studies in electrochemical systems can form the basis of a method for investigating the kinetics of various reactions, the structure of the electrical double layer at the metal–electrolyte interface, and the behaviour of electrons in liquids.
The theory of photoelectron emission, the relevant experimental techniques, and the most important results obtained in this new branch of electrochemistry are discussed. 117 references.