Nonequilibrium generation of hot electrons in a metal during chemical reaction at the liquid-metal interface

Nonthermal (nonequilibrium) generation of hot electrons (electron-hole pairs) in palladium has been observed due to the chemical energy transfer to electrons in the metal during the exothermal reaction of hydrogen peroxide decomposition at the aqueous H2O2 solution-palladium interface. The yield of electronhole pairs (per decomposed peroxide molecule) in the metal has been determined.