Thermal electron capture in the mixtures of halocarbons and environmental gases

The electron capture processes in the mixtures containing halocarbons (CHF3 or CClF3) and nitrogen have been investigated. Second- and third-order:kin etics were observed in both cases. The electron interaction with van der Wa als complexes CHF3.N-2 and CClF3.N-2 was invoked to explain this behavior a nd the corresponding rate constants have been determined. The values for tw o-body processes (5 x 10-(14) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) -CHF3 and 1.3 x 10(- 13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) -CCLF3) are fully consistent with the literatu re data. The estimated rate constants for electron capture by van der Waals complexes are equal to 1.2 x 10(-10) and 2.4 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for CHF3.N-2 and CClF3.N-2, respectively.