Temperature dependence of electron attachment to methylene chloride

Temperature dependence of dissociative electron attachment to methylene chloride in the electron energy range of 0–10 eV was studied in a high-temperature electron swarm apparatus. The measurements were made using $N2$ and Ar as buffer gases. From the measured electron attachment rate constants, the electron attachment cross sections at 300, 400, and 500 K were determined using an unfolding technique. The maximum electron attachment cross sections at 300, 400, and 500 K were $≈3.1×10−18,$ $≈8.2×10−18,$ and $≈1.7×10−17 cm2,$ and occurred at electron energies of ≈0.8, ≈0.65, and ≈0.55 eV, respectively. The increase in electron attachment to methylene chloride with temperature is attributed to the increase in the vibrational energy of the molecule.