Absolute grand-total cross sections (TCSs) for electron scattering from tetramethylmethane [C(CH3)4], tetramethylsilane [Si(CH3)4], and tetramethylgermane [Ge(CH3)4] molecules have been measured at electron-impact energies extending from around 0.5 to 300 eV in the linear electron-transmission experiment. The measured TCS energy dependences show very pronounced broad enhancement, peaking near 5.5 eV for Si(CH3)4 and Ge(CH3)4 molecules and around 6.5 eV for C(CH3)4. Additional weak structures are also located at higher electron energies. We attributed the TCS features to the resonant processes involved in the electron–molecule scattering. To examine the role of permethylation in the scattering, the measured TCS energy functions for X(CH3)4 compounds (X = C, Si, Ge) have been compared to the TCS curves for XH4 molecules. Additionally, the integral elastic cross section (ECS) and ionization cross section (ICS) have been calculated from intermediate to high electron-impact energies using model methods. At energies above 50 eV, the sum of ECS and ICS for the investigated targets is in satisfactory agreement with the respective measured TCS. The computed ECS+ICS values can be used as rough estimation of TCS at energies above 300 eV.

Absolute grand-total cross section (TCS) for electron scattering from a tin tetrachloride, SnCl4, molecule was measured at electron-impact energies ranging from 0.6 to 300 eV, in the linear electron-transmission experiment. The measured TCS energy dependence shows two very pronounced enhancements peaking near 1.2 eV and around 9.5 eV, separated with a deep minimum centered close to 3 eV. The low energy structure is attributed to the formation of two short-living negative ion states. Additional weak structures in the TCS curve are also perceptible. We also calculated the integral elastic and ionization cross sections for SnCl4 up to 4 keV within the additivity rule approximation and the binary-encounter-Bethe approach, respectively. To examine the role of the central atom of tetrachloride target molecules in collisions with electrons, we compared the experimental TCS energy functions for XCl4 molecules (X = C, Si, Ge, Sn).

Absolute grand-total cross section for electron scattering from titanium tetrachloride, TiCl4, molecule was measured at electron-impact energies ranging from 0.3 to 300 eV, in the linear electron-transmission experiment. The elastic integral, differential, momentum transfer, and total ionization cross sections for TiCl4 molecule were also calculated for low and intermediate collisional energies at the level of various theories. The low-energy elastic integral, differential, and momentum transfer cross sections were calculated with the Schwinger multichannel method implemented with pseudopotentials, in the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization levels of approximation, for energies up to 30 eV. The integral cross section calculated for low-energy electron scattering with the R-matrix method within the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization approximations for energies up to 15 eV are also reported. By the inspection of the cross sections, the presence of resonances is discussed. In particular, the calculated integral cross sections and the measured total cross section display a minimum at around 1 eV, which is consistent with the presence of a Ramsauer–Townsend minimum and a sharp increase at low energies, which is consistent with the presence of a virtual state. Additionally, interactions in elastic and ionization channels for intermediate collision energies were investigated with the additivity rule and the binary-encounter-Bethe methods.

To investigate how replacement of H atom with methyl group (CH3) – in tetrahedral compounds of carbon, silicon and germanium – affects electron scattering process, total cross sections (TCS) for electron scattering from C(CH3)4, Si(CH3)4 and Ge(CH3)4 molecules have been compared with data for CH4, SiH4 and GeH4 molecules. All examined data have been obtained with the same experimental setup. The shape of all discussed TCS energy dependences is very similar and is characterized by a dominant maximum peaked below 10 eV. For methylated compounds a gentle structure is also visible on high energy slope of main enhancement, between 10 – 20 eV. A simple formula for TCS evaluation for partially methylated carbon, silicon and germanium compounds is also proposed.

Synopsis Total cross sections (TCS) for low-energy electron scattering from X(CH3)4 (where X = C, Si, Ge) molecules have been measured using linear transmission method. Present results and those obtained previously for XH4 molecules were used to determine how methylation of the target is reflected in TCS energy dependence.