Analysis of polymer surfaces using electron and ion beams

Abstract

When materials science emerged as one of the important research areas in the 1980s, chemists were encouraged to become more involved in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary efforts in the field (1). Today, interest continues unabated and chemists are making contributions in areas ranging from material synthesis and characterization to the details of development and device engineering. One emphasis in materials science involves surface and interfacial concerns, and this is an area in which advances in basic science rapidly transfer to technology (2).Materials scientists and engineers are now focusing more attention on polymers because of their increasing usefulness in the marketplace. Polymers are an inexpensive alternative for traditional structural materials: in fact, the volume of polymers produced worldwide has surpassed that of steel.

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy of polymer surfaces: High-resolution and orientation effects of polytetrafluoroethylene films

“…1,2 High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy ͑HREELS͒ can, therefore, provide valuable information about the surface of a bulk solid which optical techniques cannot. Properties such as surface diffusion and adhesion depend on surface structure and morphology which can be probed through the vibrational modes of the surface.…”

Preparation and XPS surface chemical analysis of PS/PU nanocomposites

“…The surface analysis of polymers can now rely on many spectroscopic techniques,14–19 some of them being well established. XPS is probably one of the most popular and accessible methods to analyze the surface chemistry of materials.…”

High-Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy Investigation of the Vibrational Structure and Order of an Octadecanethiol Monolayer on Gold Substrates

“…In the past 10 years, there has been keen interest in using this spectroscopy for studying the surfaces of molecular solids and organic films. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In this specific application, the quantitative understanding of the interaction between low-energy electrons and the investigated surface is still an open question. Using an electron beam of low energy, HREELS has intrinsically a great sensitivity to the extreme surface and can evidence vibrational excitations at lower energy than infrared spectroscopy.…”