Study of electron scattering from

A detailed study on electron impact elastic scattering from $${\mathrm {CH}}_{4}^{+}$$, $${\mathrm {NH}}_{3}^{+}$$, $$\mathrm {H}_{2}\mathrm {O}^{+}$$, $${\mathrm {NH}}_{4}^{+}$$ and $$\mathrm {H}_{3}\mathrm {O}^{+}$$ molecular ions is reported for the first time by using an optical model potential method. The static potential of each ion is obtained analytically by representing the molecular ion with Gaussian orbital wave functions. Exchange and polarization potentials are added with the static potential to form an optical model potential. Utilizing this optical model potential, the Dirac equations are solved with the partial wave phase shift analysis method to obtain the scattering amplitudes. The differential cross section results are reported for 10–500 eV incident electron energy range. These results for the different molecular ions are compared with their corresponding neutral molecules