Lifetime of negative molecular ions of tetracene and pentacene with respect to the autodetachment of an electron

The processes of nondissociative resonant attachment and autodetachment of electrons in a number of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules have been investigated by mass spectrometry. Long-lived negative molecular ions of phenanthrene and triphenylene have not been observed. Such ions have been detected for anthracene, pyrene, and benzo[e]pyrene capturing thermal electrons. Negative molecular ions of tetracene and pentacene have also been observed up to $2.5$–$3$ eV. The lifetimes of these ions with respect to the auto-detachment of an electron have been measured throughout the energy range where they are observed. This lifetime for tetracene and pentacene is more than 10 ms, which is two or three orders of magnitude larger than that for remaining compounds. Correlation between the lifetime of ions and the electron affinity of the molecules has been revealed.