Flowing afterglow studies of the electron recombination of protonated cyanides (RCN)H+ and their proton-bound dimer ions (RCN)2H+ where R is H, CH3, and CH3CH2

This plot indicates very clearly that selecting the appropriate [HCN] is necessary for obtaining accurate αe's. The designated regions are where H3+, HCNH+ and (HCN)2H+ control the loss of electrons in a flowing afterglow.