When Photoelectrons Meet Gas Molecules: Determining the Role of Inelastic Scattering in Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: Inelastic photoelectron scattering (IPES) by gas molecules, a critical phenomenon observed in ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS), complicates spectral interpretation due to kinetic energy loss in the primary spectrum and the appearance of additional features at higher binding energies. In this study, we systematically investigate IPES in various gas environments using APXPS, providing detailed insights into interactions between photoelectrons emitted from solid surfaces and surrounding gas molecules. Core-level XPS spectra of Au, Ag, Zn, and Cu metals were recorded over a wide kinetic energy range in the presence of CO₂, N₂, Ar, and H₂ gases, demonstrating the universal nature of IPES across different systems. Additionally, we analyze

SUBMITTER: Li H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758507 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature