Density effects on ion mobilities in electron attaching fluids: CS₂, SF₆, and C₆F₆

Abstract

Ion mobilities μ were measured at densities n ranging from those of the low density gas (n < 0.01 nc, where nc = critical fluid density) through the dense gas and low-density liquid transition region (~0.5nc to 2nc) to the normal liquid (~3nc). The mobility at a given density was constant over a 10-fold variation of electric field strength, typically in the range 0.1 < E(MV/m) < 5. In the gas phase changes in mobility were dominated by changes in gas density. Comparison with neutral molecule transport in SF6 was used to illustrate the change in the effect of the ion on its local environment from that of molecular cluster formation to that of liquid electrostriction as density was increased. In the liquid, changes in ion mobility are dominated by changes in free volume. Mobilities in the present liquids could be described without reference to the activation energies suggested by the Arrhenius model. Keywords: ion, mobility, fluid, density, electron attaching.