Interactions of low-energy electrons with the FEBID precursor chromium hexacarbonyl (Cr(CO)).

Interactions of low-energy electrons with the FEBID precursor Cr(CO) have been investigated in a crossed electron-molecular beam setup coupled with a double focusing mass spectrometer with reverse geometry. Dissociative electron attachment leads to the formation of a series of anions by the loss of CO ligand units. The bare chromium anion is formed by electron capture at an electron energy of about 9 eV. Metastable decays of Cr(CO) into Cr(CO), Cr(CO) into Cr(CO) and Cr(CO) into Cr(CO) are discussed. Electron-induced dissociation at 70 eV impact energy was found to be in agreement with previous studies. A series of Cr(CO) C (0 ≤ ≤ 3) cations formed by C-O cleavage is described for the first time. The metastable decay of Cr(CO) into Cr(CO) and collision-induced dissociation leading to bare Cr, are discussed. In addition, doubly charged cations were identified and the ration between doubly and singly charged fragments was determined and compared with previous studies, showing considerable differences.