Reactive scattering of O− in organic films at subionization collision energies

Anion desorption stimulated by the impact of 0–20 eV electrons on O2/hydrocarbon mixed films is reported. It is shown that part of the H−, OH−, CH−, and CH2− desorption yields from O2/hydrocarbon films is the result of reactive scattering of O− fragments produced via dissociative electron attachment (DEA) in the alkane and alkene thin films. These results support the interpretation that the DEA O− react with the hydrocarbon molecules to form a transient molecular anion complex which, in addition to autodetachment, may decay by dissociation into various anion and neutral fragments, and thus cause chemical modification of the solid.