Characteristic Electron Energy Loss Spectra of the Noble Metals and their Neighbours

Abstract

The characteristic electron energy loss spectra of the elements Zr, Pd, Ag, Au, Zn and Cd have been obtained using the reflection technique and primary electron energies of 1500 and 800 ev. It is observed that in the second group of transition metals, the relation between the observed plasma losses and the theoretical values is not quite the same as that found previously for the first group of transition metals, in that the observed values are here greater than the theoretical near the beginning of the series. The spectra of the noble metals are complex and show few similarities to one another. The two elements Zn and Cd, which follow noble metals in the periodic table, have very similar spectra and it is obvious that plasma oscillations involving their two valence electrons are still influenced by the recently filled d band.