Characteristic Energy Loss Spectra of II–VI Compounds

Abstract

Characteristic electron energy loss spectra of some II–VI compounds, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS and CdSe, were measured up to about 25 eV by transmission of 40 keV electrons and compared with the energy loss function −Im[ε(ω)⁻¹] calculated from optical measurements. Good agreements between them were found in the peaks from 0 eV to about 13 eV.
Some of the characteristic energy losses were explained; losses at about 11∼12 eV are due to the excitations of the valence electron plasmons, those at about 14 eV and those at about 17 eV are due to the excitations of cation d electrons and of anion s electrons respectively.