Because electrons of incident energy in the 500-1 500 eV range interact appreciably within only a few atomic layers in solids, precisely measuring and applying their interaction coefficients becomes difficult. The statistics of the interactions and the sensitivity to the geometric arrangement of the target atoms require special attention. A method for the study of such interactions is presented here that is based upon the controlled deposition of monatomic layers of bivalent metal cations as targets within the framework of stearate double layers of the Langmuir-Blodgett type. To demonstrate the method, cross sections of the barium cation have been measured at 466 eV, 706 eV and 1 349 eV, and those of zinc and lead at 706 eV. The measured values are shown to be consistent with recent atomic beam measurements on barium and with simple theoretical models. Measurements of this type are considered to be of great importance in the development of quantitative surface chemical analysis by low energy X-ray and electron spectroscopy