Inner shell electron energy loss studies of HCN and C 2N 2

Abstract

Small angle inelastic scattering of electrons with several kilovolts impact energy has been used to study carbon and nitrogen K-shell excitation and ionization of HCN and C 2N 2. The observed energy loss structures are assigned to promotions of K-shell electrons to valence and Rydberg orbitals. High resolution spectra (<100 meV fwhm) of the most intense inner shell transitions in HCN are reported. Excitation and ionization energies of the radicals HN 2 and HCO are derived from the HCN inner shell spectra using the equivalent core analogy.