EMOL · Investigation of low-energy electron collisions with molecules in cluster and surface environments
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2010-06-16 → 2012-06-15
- EU contribution
- €233,090
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-IIF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Investigation of low-energy electron collisions with molecules in cluster and surface environments
The purpose of this award was to develop a research program within the European Union (EU) to perform theoretical investigations of low-energy electron attachment to polyatomic molecules, clusters and molecules in cluster environment. These processes are important for many applications including the radiation damage, nanolithography, plasma processing, astrochemistry and environmental science. In the field of dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to polyatomic molecules, our goal was to combine ab initio methods for electron-molecule scattering developed at the Open University with the resonance R-matrix theory for treatment of the nuclear dynamics developed by the MC Fellow. The objective was to apply the new formulation to a broad class of molecules including the molecules of biological interest. Another objective was to extend the resonance R-matrix theory to multidimensional case allowing us to include several vibrational degrees of freedom in treatment of the dissociative process. In the field of electron attachment to molecules in cluster environment the objective was to combine the theory of multiple scattering developed by Prof. Laurent Caron (Sherbrooke University) and Dr. Gorfinkiel (OU) with the resonance R-matrix theory. It was also planned to develop further the theory of nondissociative attachment to molecular van der Waals clusters to provide theoretical support to experiments of Professor N J Mason and Dr. Samuel Eden (Open University). http://science-people.open.ac.uk/n.j.mason
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
In the past decade, it has become increasingly apparent that low-energy electrons (LEE) play a critical role in a large number of fundamental and applied fields. Electrons with energies in the range 0-10 eV can induce specific chemical reactions which are relevant to nanolithography, dielectric aging, radiation waste management, radiation processing, astrochemistry, planetary and atmospheric chemistry, surface photochemistry, radiobiology, and radiotherapy. In the last decade researchers in the European Union have been at the forefront of such research and, through a number of EU supported networking activities (co-ordinated by the host), have led the international research community in the development of experimental studies of LEE interactions with molecules in the gaseous phase and at the surface of molecular and biomolecular solids pioneering a new field of ‘electron induced chemistry’. However, a comprehensive theory capable of predicting the dissociation dynamics of such electron molecule interactions - the precursor to the subsequent electron driven chemistry – has remained elusive. The applicant, Professor Ilya Fabrikant, has been at the forefront of such theoretical studies for more than 30 years. The purpose of the proposed IIF is to allow Professor Fabrikant to transfer his expertise to the emerging younger theoretical research community within the European Union. Based at the host institution, chosen because of its unique combination of experiment and theoretical research and recognised leadership in the field of electron induced chemistry, Professor Fabrikant will pursue a novel research program investigating electron attachment, and particularly dissociative electron attachment (DEA) with polyatomic molecules across a range of media including gaseous, clusters, surface and bulk matter, exploring how this basic chemical precursor process is influenced by such different environments.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- THE OPEN UNIVERSITY · Milton KeynesCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union