Excitation and fragmentation of the dielectric gas C4F7N: Electrons vs photons

Fundamental data for modeling electron-induced processes in plasma remediation of perfluoroalkyl substances

Plasma treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated water is a potentially energy efficient remediation method. In this treatment, an atmospheric pressure plasma interacts with surface-resident PFAS molecules. Developing a reaction mechanism and modeling of plasma-PFAS interactions requires fundamental data for electron-molecule reactions. In this paper, we present results of electron scattering calculations, potential energy landscapes and their implications for plasma modelling of a dielectric barrier discharge in PFAS contaminated gases, a first step towards modelling of plasma-water-PFAS intereactions. It is found that the plasma degradation of PFAS is dominated by dissociative electron attachment with the importance of other contributing processes varying depending on the molecule. All molecules posses a large number of shape resonances - transient negative ion states - from near-threshold up to ionization threshold. These states lie in the region of the most probable electron energies in the plasma (4-5 eV) and consequently are expected to further enhance the fragmentation dynamics in both dissociative attachment and dissociative excitation.

VUV absorption spectra of water and nitrous oxide by a double-duty differentially pumped gas filter

The differentially pumped rare-gas filter at the end of the VUV beamline of the Swiss Light Source has been adapted to house a windowless absorption cell for gases. Absorption spectra can be recorded from 7 eV to up to 21 eV photon energies routinely, as shown by a new water and nitrous oxide absorption spectrum. By and large, the spectra agree with previously published ones both in terms of resonance energies and absorption cross sections, but that of N2O exhibits a small shift in the {\tilde{\bf D}} band and tentative fine structures that have not yet been fully described. This setup will facilitate the measurement of absorption spectra in the VUV above the absorption edge of LiF and MgF2 windows. It will also allow us to carry out condensed-phase measurements on thin liquid sheets and solid films. Further development options are discussed, including the recording of temperature-dependent absorption spectra, a stationary gas cell for calibration measurements, and the improvement of the photon energy resolution.

Contrasting Dynamics in Isoelectronic Anions Formed by Electron Attachment

Cyanogen NCCN and cyanoacetylene HCCCN are isoelectronic molecules, and as such, they have many similar properties. We focus on the bond cleavage in these induced by the dissociative electron attachment. In both molecules, resonant electron attachment produces CN- with very similar energy dependence. We investigate the very different dissociation dynamics, in each of the two molecules, revealed by velocity map imaging of this common fragment. Different dynamics are manifested both in the excess energy partitioning and in the angular distributions of fragments. Based on the comparison with electron energy loss spectra, which provide information about possible parent states of the resonances (both optically allowed and forbidden excited states of the neutral target), we ascribe the observed effect to the distortion of the nuclear frame during the formation of core-excited resonance in cyanoacetylene. The proposed mechanism also explains a puzzling difference in the magnitude of the CN- cross section in the two molecules which has been so far unexplained.