Electronassisted

Electronassisted is an adjective used in scientific literature to describe processes, reactions, or fabrication techniques in which electrons play an active facilitating role. The term is not a formal field but a cross-disciplinary descriptor applied wherever electron involvement lowers activation barriers, transfers energy, or triggers chemical transformations.

In physics and nanoscience, electronassisted phenomena include electron-assisted tunneling, where electron energy or inelastic scattering enables transitions through barriers; in molecular electronics, electrons injected by a contact can excite or reorient molecules to enable conduction or switching. Electron irradiation can also drive rearrangements in nanoscale systems via beam-induced processes.

In chemistry and materials science, electronassisted deposition and reactions refer to processes powered or enhanced by electron energy, such as electron-beam induced deposition (EBID) or electron-stimulated surface reactions. In EBID, a focused electron beam decomposes adsorbed precursor molecules on a substrate, facilitating material deposition with spatial control. Electron-assisted reactions under irradiation are used to tailor surfaces, synthesize nanomaterials, or modify catalytic activity through targeted electron transfer or bond cleavage.

Applications and considerations: The approach enables precise patterning, low-temperature synthesis, and the study of reaction mechanisms under controlled electron flux. Limitations include beam-induced damage, contamination from residual adsorbates, and the need to manage dose, energy, and environment to avoid unwanted side reactions. The term emphasizes the role of electrons rather than a fixed method.

See also: Electron beam lithography, Electron microscopy, Electron-induced chemistry.