Communication: Revised electron affinity of SF6 from kinetic data.

Previously determined experimental data for thermal attachment of electrons to SF 6 and thermal detachment from SF 6 − over the range 590–670 K are reevaluated by a third-law analysis. Recent high precision calculations of SF 6 − harmonic frequences and anharmonicities (for several of the modes) lead to considerable changes in modeled vibrational partition functions which then have to be accommodated for by a smaller value of the derived adiabatic electron affinity EA of SF 6 . The previously estimated value of EA = 1.20 ( ± 0.05) eV in this way is reduced to a value of EA = 1.03 ( ± 0.05) eV. In addition, the bond dissociation energy E 0,dis for SF 6 − → SF 5 − + Fisre- duced to E 0,dis = 1.44 ( ± 0.05) eV. Finally, the consequences for modeled specific rate constants k det ( E,J ) of electron detachment from SF 6 − are discussed