Electron-stimulated desorption negative ions from condensed molecules

The formation of negative ions in electrons scattering from a number of molecules (O2, CO, NO, N2O) condensed on a refrigerated polycrystalline platinum surface is reported in the energy range 0–20 eV. Two mechanisms namely, dissociative electron attachment and polar dissociation account for the observations. The behavior of the negative ion signal with thickness average as well as comparison with gas‐phase observations is discussed.