Electron Affinities of Polystyrene and Poly(2-vinylpyridine) by Low-Energy Electron Inelastic Scattering

Abstract

Low-energy electron energy loss spectra including secondary electron bands and low-energy electron transmission spectra were measured for polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine) thin films deposited on metal substrates. Almost all the features of these spectra could be explained as the result of electronic excitations localized in pendant molecules. The electron affinities of polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine) were estimated as 0.4±0.1 eV and 0.3±0.1 eV, respectively, based on the one-to-one correspondence of the spectral features of these two types of spectra.