Photochemical Processes in Solids at Room Temperature

Abstract

ALTHOUGH this subject has received little study, the situation of the ‘reactive sites’ (excited molecules or free radicals) as ‘embedded’ in the solid matrix may be expected to lead to unusual kinetic effects. The molecular structure and close packing of the matrix should exert a profound effect on the collisional and energetic interactions of the reactive molecules. Phenomena such as energy transfer and Franck–Rabinowitch recombination should be most efficient in specific cases, although generally this may not be the case. Wilson¹, applying the Laplace transformation technique, has considered recently the interaction of diffusion and reaction kinetics for a series of theoretical cases. We report here some results of work with nylon polymer films, which have a bearing on this subject.