Evidence for ammonia solvated electrons stabilized at the surface of magnesium oxide

We report on the magnetic properties of solvated electrons localized at the surface of magnesium oxide and obtained by reaction of ammonia with surface excess electrons. Excess electrons can be stabilized at the surface of insulating ionic oxides by strong local potentials of positive and negative ions in particular arrays and in some circumstances by single cations. Exposure of these centres to NH3 leads to ammoniated electrons analogous to those obtained by dissolution of alkali metals in liquid ammonia.