Abstract
This paper describes the results of experimental determination of the electron affinities of polystyrene (PS), poly (2-vinylpyridine) (PVP), poly (2-vinylnaphthalene) (P2VN) and poly (N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz).
We have used two types of electron scattering techniques, electron transmission and electron energy loss experiments with low-energy electron beams, in order to determine the absolute location of the bottom of the conduction bands (the negative of the electron affinity). By comparing the energy positions of the spectral features observed in the two types of spectra, we have determined the electron affinities of PS, PVP, P2VN and PVCz to be 0.4 eV, 0.3 eV, 0.6 eV and 1.8 eV, respectively.
Further, a brief discussion is also made on the method to determine the electron affinity from the low-energy electron scattering by solids.
