Effect of Reverse Micelles Size on the Electron Transfer Reaction within the Ion Pair of Co (III)/Fe (II) Complexes

The electron transfer process between pentammineaquacobalt (III) and hexacyanoferrate (II), [Co(NH3)5H2O]3+/Fe(CN)6]4− ion pair was investigated in water/dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT)/Isooctane reverse micelles. The study observed that the electron transfer rate depends on the size of the reverse micelles. The concentrations of Fe (II) ions were varied in different-sized (Wo) reverse micelles of Wo = [H2O]/[AOT] = 10 to 30, but the concentration of Co (III) ions was kept constant. The rate of electron transfer in the ion pair [Co(NH3)5H2O]3+/[Fe(CN)6]4− increased with decreasing size (Wo) of reverse micelles. The smallest reverse micelles Wo = 10 demonstrated the fastest electron transfer rate, and the biggest Wo = 30 reverse micelles showed the slowest electron transfer rate. The change of reaction environment and the location of the reactants in the reverse micelles due to confinement are considered the factors responsible for the results.