Velocity map imaging of inelastic and elastic low energy electron scattering in organic nanoparticles

TL;DR

This study uses velocity map imaging to measure inelastic and elastic electron scattering in organic nanoparticles, providing new data on mean free paths and cross-sections at low energies, which enhances understanding of electron transport in these materials.

Contribution

It presents experimental measurements of scattering mean free paths and cross-sections for low energy electrons in organic nanoparticles using velocity map imaging spectroscopy.

Findings

Inelastic mean free path decreases with increasing electron KE.

Elastic mean free path increases with increasing electron KE.

Data improves understanding of electron transport at low energies.

Abstract

Electron transport is of fundamental importance, and has application in a variety of fields. Different scattering mechanisms affect electron transport in solids. It is important to comprehensively understand these mechanisms and their scattering cross-sections to predict electron transport properties. Whereas electron transport is well understood for high kinetic energy (KE) electrons, there are inconsistencies in the low KE regime. In this work, velocity map imaging soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to unsupported organic nanoparticles to extract experimental values of inelastic and elastic mean free paths. The obtained data is used to calculate corresponding scattering cross-sections. The data demonstrates a decrease of the Inelastic Mean Free Path and increase of the Elastic Mean Free Path with increasing electron KE between 10-50 eV.