Free Electrons with Thermal Energy: their Generation for Chemical Use

Abstract

FREE electrons with thermal energy react readily with the molecules of many chemical substances; since the free electron may be regarded as the simplest free radical, an unattached valence bond, and indeed as an ultimate chemical particle, this reaction is clearly of interest and importance in chemistry. The lack of a source of uncontaminated free electrons at thermal energy has restricted the observation of free electron reactions to systems where the free electrons were present simultaneously with other reactive species such as free radicals, positive ions, excited atoms and molecules, and ionizing radiation. Some or all of these reactive contaminants are present in the reactions of radiation and electro-chemistry.