Laser-assisted (e, 2e) collisions in helium

The influence of a strong laser field on the dynamics of fast (e, 2e) collisions in helium is analyzed in the asymmetric, coplanar geometry. The interaction of the laser field with the incident, scattered and ejected electrons is treated in a non-perturbative way, while the remaining interactions are treated by using first order perturbation theory. Detailed calculations are performed for an incident electron energyE _{k i}=600 eV, an ejected electron energyE _{k B}=5 eV and a scattering angle θ _A =4°. The influence of the laser parameters (photon energy, intensity and direction of polarization) on the angular distribution of the ejected electron is analyzed. We find that in general the triple differential cross sections are strongly dependent on the dressing of the projectile and the target by the laser field.     

Spin exchange in low energy electron-ion collisions

The elastic scattering of an electron by a hydrogenic ion of charge (Z-1) is investigated. For scattering energiesE _kin in the eV region, where the Bohr-Sommerfeld parametery is large compared to one, the cross section for spin exchange of the electrons is found to be proportional toZ ^?2 andE ^?1 _kin. Spin exchange is dominated by radiative electron capture forZ>25.     

Theoretical simulation of backscattered electron images of Si/SixGe1-x structures with a scanning electron microscope

In this work, we report on a theoretical study of the contrast formation at Si/Si_xGe_1–x interfaces in backscattered electron images of a scanning electron microscope. The contrast at the heterointerface is calculated for different atomic concentrations (0 < × < 1) and energies (E₀ = 10 and 20 keV). The electron scattering phenomenon is simulated by employing a Monte Carlo method by using a single scattering approach. The signal intensity close to the interface shows a peak on the alloy side and a dip on the Si side. We explain this phenomenon by using the diffusion theory of the backscattered electrons. The spatial resolution increases by decreasing the Si concentration in the alloy side and by decreasing the beam energy.     

Monte Carlo simulation of full energy spectrum of electrons emitted from silicon in Auger electron spectroscopy

A Monte Carlo simulation including surface excitation, Auger electron‐ and secondary electron production has been performed to calculate the energy spectrum of electrons emitted from silicon in Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), covering the full energy range from the elastic peak down to the true‐secondary‐electron peak. The work aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the experimental AES spectrum by integrating the up‐to‐date knowledge of electron scattering and electronic excitation near the solid surface region. The Monte Carlo simulation model of beam–sample interaction includes the atomic ionization and relaxation for Auger electron production with Casnati's ionization cross section, surface plasmon excitation and bulk plasmon excitation as well as other bulk electronic excitation for inelastic scattering of electrons (including primary electrons, Auger electrons and secondary electrons) through a dielectric functional approach, cascade secondary electron production in electron inelastic scattering events, and electron elastic scattering with use of Mott's cross section. The simulated energy spectrum for Si sample describes very well the experimental AES EN(E) spectrum measured with a cylindrical mirror analyzer for primary energies ranging from 500 eV to 3000 eV. Surface excitation is found to affect strongly the loss peak shape and the intensities of the elastic peak and Auger peak, and weakly the low energy backscattering background, but it has less effect to high energy backscattering background and the Auger electron peak shape. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical approach to the corrosion inhibition efficiency of some quinoxaline derivatives of steel in acid media using the DFT method

Corrosion inhibition efficiencies of 1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (Q1) and 2-phenylthieno[2,3-b]quinoxaline (Q2) as corrosion inhibitors against the corrosion of steel surface in hydrochloric acid is studied by means of density functional approach B3LYP/6-31G calculations. Quantum chemical parameters such as highest occupied molecular orbital energy (E _HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E _LUMO), energy gap (ΔE), dipole moment (μ), electronegativity (χ), electron affinity (A), global hardness (η), softness (σ), ionization potential (I), the fraction of electrons transferred (?N), the global electrophilicity ω, and the total energy were calculated. All calculations have been performed by considering density functional theory using the GAUSSIAN03W suite of programs.     

Measuring the electron affinity of organic solids: an indispensable new tool for organic electronics

Electron affinity is a fundamental energy parameter of materials. In organic semiconductors, the electron affinity is closely related to electron conduction. It is not only important to understand fundamental electronic processes in organic solids, but it is also indispensable for research and development of organic semiconductor devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. However, there has been no experimental technique for examining the electron affinity of organic materials that meets the requirements of such research. Recently, a new method, called low-energy inverse-photoemission spectroscopy, has been developed. A beam of low-energy electrons is focused onto the sample surface, and photons emitted owing to the radiative transition to unoccupied states are then detected. From the onset of the spectral intensity, the electron affinity is determined within an uncertainty of 0.1 eV. Unlike in conventional inverse-photoemission spectroscopy, sample damage is negligible and the resolution is improved by a factor of 2. The principle of the method and several applications are reported.

Quantum chemical study of some triazoles as inhibitors of corrosion of copper in acid media

The efficiency of 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (Tz1), 4-amino-3-hydrazino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (Tz2), and 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diamine (Tz3) as inhibitors of corrosion of copper in nitric acid was investigated by use of density functional theory (DFT). Quantum chemical data, for example energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (E _HOMO), energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (E _LUMO), energy gap (ΔE), dipole moment (μ), electronegativity (χ), electron affinity (A), global hardness (η), softness (σ), ionization potential (I), fraction of electrons transferred from the inhibitor molecules to the metallic atom (ΔN), and total energy (TE), were calculated. All calculations were performed by use of DFT with Gaussian 03W software. A good correlation was found between theoretical data and experimental results.     

On the chemical bonding features in palladium containing compounds: A combined QTAIM/DFT topological analysis

Topological analyses of the electron density on N-benzoyl-L-pheylalanine and its palladium(II) complexes are carried out using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) at the M06/6-31G(d) theoretical level. The topological parameters derived from the Bader theory are also analyzed; these are characteristics of Pd bond critical points and ring critical points. The calculated structural parameters are the highest occupied molecular orbital energy (E _HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E _LUMO), the hardness (η), the softness (S), the absolute electronegativity (χ), the electrophilicity index (ω), and the fractions of electrons transferred (ΔN) from ethylenediamine, 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline complexes to N-benzoyl-L-pheylalanine. The numerous correlations and dependences between the energy terms of the symmetry adapted perturbation theory approach, geometrical, topological, and energy parameters are detected and described.     

The reaction Yb+O2 → YbO + O in a crossed molecular beam experiment

Dissociation energy (D_o = 4.29 ± 0.05 eV), threshold energy (E = 0.83 ± 0.05 eV) and forward scattering at a collision-al energy E_c = 1.1 cV have been found by crossing beam of Yb atoms with a supersonic seeded beam of He + O₂ at collisional energies up to E_c = 1.4 eV.     

Internal excitation effects in the photodissociation of size selected ethylene and methanol dimers

The infrared photodissociation spectra of C₂H₄ and CH₃OH dimers are measured for different internal excitation energies ΔE. The dimers are size-selected in a scattering process with He and the internal energy is varied by using (1) different collision energies, (2) different scattering angles and (3) by measuring the complete energy loss spectra with and without laser radiation by time-of-flight analysis of the scattered clusters. For (CH₃OH)₂ the width Γ of the spectrum increases strongly with ΔE, while the cross section at the maximum is constant, a normal behaviour for an inhomogeneously broadened system. For (C₂H₄)₂ Γ is nearly constant after a sort of threshold and the cross section increases with increasing ΔE. These results are explained by hot band excitation and the coupling to the darkv ₁₀-mode.     

Collisional energy transfer and fragmentation of size selected CO2 clusters

Carbon dioxide clusters are generated in a supersonic molecular beam and size selected by scattering from a He beam. By analyzing the measured time-of-flight spectra as a function of the deflection angle, differential energy loss spectra for (CO₂)₂ — He are obtained which show a rotational rainbow structure with a maximal energy transfer of ΔE/E=0.4. This result is compatible with the slipped parallel structure of dimer but not with theT-shaped geometry. The scattering analysis is also used to derive information about the pressure dependence of cluster formation and the fragmentation by electron impact ionisation. The latter process leads preferably to the monomer product ion CO ₂ ⁺ with a small but finite probability for other ionic channels.     

Solvated electrons at elevated temperatures in different alcohols: Temperature and molecular structure effects

The absorption spectra of solvated electrons in pentanol, hexanol and octanol are measured from 22 to 200, 22 to 175 and 50 to150 °C, respectively, at a fixed pressure of 15 MPa, using nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique. The results show that the peak positions of the absorption spectra have a red-shift (shift to longer wavelengths) as temperature increases, similar to water and other alcohols. Including the above mentioned data, a compilation of currently available experimental data on the energy of absorption maximum (E_max) of solvated electrons changed with temperature in monohydric alcohols, diols and triol is presented. E_max of solvated electron is larger in those alcohols that have more OH groups at all the temperatures. The molecular structure effect, including OH numbers, OH position and carbon chain length, is investigated. For the primary alcohols with same OH group number and position, the temperature coefficient increases with increase in chain length. For the alcohols with same chain length and OH numbers, temperature coefficient is larger for the symmetric alcohols than the asymmetric ones.     

Memory effect on the inelastic interaction of electrons moving parallel to a solid surface

It is generally assumed that two successive inelastic interactions between an electron and a solid are independent of each other. In other words, the electron has no memory of its previous interaction. However, the previous interaction of the electron generates a potential that should influence its succeeding inelastic interaction. The aim of this work is to establish a model to account for the memory effect of an electron between two successive inelastic interactions. On the basis of the dielectric response theory, formulae for differential inverse inelastic mean free paths (DIIMFPs) and inelastic mean free paths (IMFPs) considering the memory effect were derived for electrons moving parallel to a solid surface by solving the Poisson equation and applying suitable boundary conditions. These mean free paths were then calculated with the extended Drude dielectric function for a Cu surface. It was found that the DIIMFP and the IMFP with the memory effect for electron energy E lay between the corresponding values without the memory effect for electron energy E and previous energy E₀. The memory effect increased with increasing electron energy loss, E₀ ? E, in the previous inelastic interaction. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the validity of using the TKR sum rule to place zero angle electron impact spectra on an absolute scale

The use of the Thomas—Kuhn—Reiche (TKR) sum rule to place electron impact spectra on an absolute scale is only rigorously correct if the observed intensities can be extrapolated to their first Born zero momentum transfer limit. This note investigates the error involved in using the TKR sum rule at zero scattering angle instead of zero momentum transfer. By considering an expansion of the generalized oscillator strength at zero angle it is shown that the first order correction to the TKR sum rule can be written as ($\text{1}\text{3}\text{k}{}^2$)[|E_o|?($\text{4}\text{5}$)$\text{V}$_ee] for target systems randomly oriented in space where k² is the incident electron energy and |E_o| and $\text{V}$_ee are the magnitude of the total electronic energy and the electron—electron repulsive energy of the ground state of the target system respectively. Estimates based on Hartree—Fock calculations indicate a 0.27% error in the use of the TKR sum rule for F and 0.79% for Ar at an incident electron energy of 25 keV.     

Electrochemistry of organometallic compounds: I. Cyclic voltammetry of organocobaloximes in aqueous acid solutions

This paper presents a systematic investigation on effects of the nature of the organic axial ligand on the primary electrochemical oxidation steps of organoaquobis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(III). Evidence is presented to support a one electron reversible process, yielding a cobalt(III) compound attached to the organic radical. Studies of p-substituted benzyl and phenyl derivatives support further the proposed process. The following step is a pseudo-first order irreversible dissociation of the oxidized species, yielding the trans-Co(DH)₂(H₂O)⁺ and the organic radical that can be further oxidized at the electrode. Linear free energy correlations obtained between E_1/2 and Taft or Hammett parameters, depending on the nature of the organic substituent in axial position, strongly favor that Co-alkyl(aryl) bonding electrons are involved in the electron transfer.     

Electron production and loss processes in a spectrochemical inductively coupled argon plasma

The behavior of inductively coupled plasmas for spectroscopic purposes has been studied extensively in the past. However, many questions about production and loss of electrons, which have a major effect on this behavior, are unanswered. Power interruption is a powerful diagnostic method to study such processes. This paper presents time resolved Thomson scattering measurements of the electron density n_e and temperature T_e in an inductively coupled argon plasma during and after power interruption. In the center of the plasma the measured temporal development of n_e and T_e can be attributed to ambipolar diffusion, three-particle recombination and ionization. However, at the edge of the plasma an additional electron loss process must be involved. In addition, the high electron temperature during power interruption indicates the presence of an electron heating mechanism. The energy gain by recombination processes is shown to be insufficient to explain this electron heating. These discrepancies may be explained by the formation and destruction of molecular argon ions, which can be present in significant quantities.     

Studies by the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) technique: VIII. Interaction of low-energy electrons with the chlorine-containing molecules CCl4, CHCl3, CH2Cl2, CnH2n+1 Cl(n = 1 to 4). C2H3Cl,COCl2, NOCl,CNCl and Cl2

Rate constants, in some cases also activation energies and energy dependences, were measured for the capture of low-energy electrons by the molecules CCl₄, CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, C_nH_2n+1 Cl(n = 1 to 4), C₂H₃Cl, COCl₂, NOCl, CNCl and Cl₂ Potential energy curves were calculated for a number of negative ions.For ineffective scavengers the possibility of contributing scattering effects on the observed changes in signal intensity upon electron energy variation is indicated. In CCl₄ the observed energy dependence suggests the existence of intermediate negative ions. For Cl₂ good agreement was obtained between the calculated curves based on experimental data for electron capture and a recent self-consistent field analysis.     

Kinetics and mechanism of glucose electrooxidation on different electrode-catalysts: Part I. Adsorption and oxidation on platinum

The processes of adsorption and electrooxidation of glucose on a smooth platinum electrode have been investigated in a wide range of pH values. It is found that glucose adsorption are platinum is accompanied by dehydrogenation of adsorbed molecules. The θ_R vs. E_r dependence represents a bell-shaped curve with unequal sides and with a maximum at E_r = 0.2 V at 0 < pH < 12 or at E_r = 0.4 when pH > 12. The kinetics of adsorption is described by the Roginsky-Zel'dovich equation, and the dependence of the steady-state coverage on the glucose bulk concentrations by the Temkin isotherm.It is shown that in the case of glucose adsorption on platinum Q^dehyd._H > Q_H, i.e. when glucose is brought into contact with a platinum electrode, the catalytic decomposition of glucose molecules occurs in addition to the formation of strongly chemisorbed particles. The transient current at E_r < 1.0 V is a current due to the ionization of hydrogen formed during adsorption with dehydrogenation of glucose and its catalytic decomposition. The glucose electrooxidation rate under steady-state conditions at E_r < 0.7 V is determined by the interaction of the chemisorbed carbon-containing particle with OH_ads. The slow step of glucose electrooxidation in the potential range 1.0 < E_r < 1.5 V is the interaction of glucose molecules from the solution bulk with the surface platinum oxide, the latter undergoing a quick electrochemical regeneration thereafter.The basic regularities and mechanism of glucose electrooxidation on platinum are shown to be analogous to those obtained earlier for such elementary organic fuels as formaldehyde and formic acid.     

Electronegativity Scaled as a Average Attracting Energy of Valence‐Shell Electrons in a Ground‐State Free Atom

The total capability of an atom attracting valence electrons can be measured by the sum of ionization energies of valence electron in a ground‐state free atom plus its electron affinity called Total Attracting Energy, TAE = Σn_iE_i + EA, where, E_i is the ionization energy of the ith valence‐shell electron in a ground‐state free atom, n_i is the number of valence‐shell electron bearing energy E_i, and EA is the electron affinity. And the electronegativity χ_CL is proportional to the average of TAE, AAE = TAE_av, divided by Σn_i, the number of atomic valence‐shell electrons. χ_CL = 0.1813 TAE_av = 0.1813 AAE = 0.1813 TAE/Σn_i, = 0.1813 (Σn_iE_I + EA)/Σn_i. Further, the atomic valence orbital electronegativity can be also obtained from the TAE value of an atom. Some discussions were made on several special aspects such as scale of rare gases, comparisons with Pauling's and Allen's scales, etc.     

A theoretical study on the inhibition efficiencies of some quinoxalines as corrosion inhibitors of copper in nitric acid

Quantum chemical calculations based on DFT method were performed on three quinoxalines compounds namely ethyl 2-(4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-2-p-tolylquinoxalin-1(4H)-yl)acetate (Q1), 1-[4-acetyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)quinoxalin-1(4H)-yl]acetone (Q2) and 2-(4-methylphenyl)-1,4-dihydroquinoxaline (Q3), used as corrosion inhibitors for copper in nitric acid media to determine the relationship between the molecular structure of quinoxalines and inhibition efficiency. Quantum chemical parameters such as the highest occupied molecular orbital energy (E_HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E_LUMO), energy gap (ΔE), dipole moment (μ), electronegativity (χ), electron affinity (A), global hardness (η), softness (σ), ionization potential (I), the fraction of electrons transferred (ΔN), and the total energy (TE), were calculated. The theoretically obtained results were found to be consistent with the experimental data reported.