Eur. Phys. J. D 35, 355-361 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00178-5

Electron-induced modifications in thin solid films of nitromethane-D₃ with hydrocarbon admixture

Universität Bremen, Fachbereich 2 (Chemie/Biologie), Leobener Straße / NW 2, Postfach 330440, 28334 Bremen, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a swiderek@uni-bremen.de

Received: 14 March 2005
Revised: 19 May 2005
Published online: 28 June 2005

Abstract

The effect of electron exposure at an incident energy of 10.5 eV on solid molecular multilayer films containing nitromethane-D₃ has been studied by high-resolution electron-energy-loss (HREEL) spectroscopy. Nitromethane-D₃ was mixed with varying amounts of hexane or heptane to investigate whether the hydrocarbon component or, more specifically, resonant H^- production which is known to occur at electron energies around 10 eV plays a role in electron-induced modifications of the nitro group. While bands related to vibrations of the nitro group clearly diminish under exposure, the rate of this process does not depend on the amount of the admixed hydrocarbon component. Consequently, the hydrocarbon component and thus also the H^- producing resonance around 10 eV do not determine the rate of modification of nitromethane-D₃ at the investigated energy.