Role of Cavity Strong Coupling on Single Electron Transfer Reaction at Electrode-Electrolyte Interface

Physicochemical properties of molecules can be modulated through the formation of polaritonic states from the molecules and resonator based on the cavity quantum electrodynamics. Here, we discuss the possibility of the increase in the electron transfer rate at electrode-electrolyte interface. The electron transfer theory under strong electromagnetic confinements can be extended to the electrode-electrolyte interface. Single electron transfer reaction can be simulated based on the Gerischer’s theory. Although the Marcus behavior dominates the single electron transfer reaction in free space, under the strong coupling condition, the vacuum fields can facilitate additional electron transfer pathway via virtual photon excitation. Therefore, the utilization of the binary reaction pathway for the single electron transfer reaction can give quasi-two-particle electron transfer reaction. This quantum behavior can be dominant under small mode volume and large number of coherent molecules. The behavior of single electron transfer reaction via quantum process can be important for the opening the possibility for the utilization of polaritons for the electrochemical energy conversion systems.