Electric fields flick the quantum-tunnelling switch in cold reactions

By Edward Gardner2021-01-20T10:14:00

Source: © Sebastian Kozuch/Ben Gurion University of the Negev

Reaction kinetics affected by direction of external electric field under cryogenic conditions

Using quantum chemical calculations, scientists have discovered that external electric fields can drastically alter the kinetics of several chemical reactions below 20K, where quantum tunnelling dominates the reaction pathways.