Collisional induced double electron loss of NO− and CH4− anions below 10 keV energies

•Double electron detachment for the nitroxyl radical (NO−) and methane anion (CH4−).•Cross sections for collision energies below 10 keV.•Collisions with O2 and N2.

Double electron detachment cross sections for methane and nitric oxide negative ions passing through oxygen and nitrogen gas targets have been studied in the energy ranges of 2.0–10.0 keV for CH4− and 4.0–10.0 keV for NO−. The signal growth rate method was employed. Fragmentation was only observed for NO− anions colliding with both targets. In the case of CH4− anions no fragmentation was observed. The double electron detachment cross sections for methane ions is almost one order of magnitude larger than the one for nitric oxide ions. The fragmentation cross-sections for NO− is larger than the double electron detachment cross sections.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (84 K)Download as PowerPoint slide