Electron mobility in liquid isomeric pentanes: Rationalization based on Anderson localization

The vast difference between electron mobilities in isomeric pentane liquids is explained on the basis of Anderson localization followed by trapping. Random site energy fluctuation is modeled on electron-anisotropic polarizability interaction with the molecules. Connectivity and intermolecular separation are obtained from X-ray scattering data. Together, these parameters determine the fraction of initially delocalized states, computed to be 0%, 61.4%, and 100%, respectively, for n-, iso-, and neo-pentane. Trap depths and densities are phenomenologically rationalized with observed mobilities. The values for trap depths are 0.17, 0.11, and 0.02 eV for n-, iso-, and neo-pentane, while the corresponding trap densities are 0.45 × 1019, 0.70 × 1019, and 0.23 × 1019 cm−3, respectively.