Solvation dynamics in water confined within layered manganese dioxide

The confined environment presented by layered transition metal oxides is conducive to a variety of chemical reactions. Despite intense interest in these materials, little is known regarding the microscopic details relevant to their catalytic activity. We characterize aspects of the dynamics governing a redox reaction in the interlayer environment between manganese dioxide sheets. The nonequilibrium solvation dynamics surrounding charge transfer between an ion and the surface are highly non-linear and exhibit long-time relaxation that is governed by collective dynamics. These dynamics are rationalized in terms of structural rearrangements, allowing connections to be made to more complex reactions in these materials. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.